Selection attractive interfaces, systems and apparatuses including such interfaces, methods for making and using same

ABSTRACT

Systems, interfaces, and methods for implementing the systems and interfaces includes selection attractive movement as the selection protocol, where a selection object is used to discriminate between selectable objects and attract a target object toward the selection objects, where the direction and speed of the motion controls, discriminates, attracts, and activates the selected objects.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and provisional priority ofUnited Application Ser. No. 61/885,453 filed Oct. 1, 2013 (1 October2013), United Application Ser. No. 61/893,850 filed Oct. 21, 2013 (21Oct. 2013), United Application Ser. No. 61/894,050 filed Oct. 22, 2013(22 Oct. 2013), United Application Ser. No. 61/945,907 filed Feb. 28,2014 (28 Feb. 2014), and United Application Ser. No. 62/007,598 filedJun. 4, 2014 (4 Jun. 2014). This application is also related to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/384,195 filed 7 Mar. 2003 (03/07/2003)(07.03.2003), now U.S. Pat. No. 7,831,932 issued 9 Nov. 2010(11/09/2010)(09.11.2010), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/891,322filed 9 Aug. 2007 (08/09/2007) (09.08.2007), now U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,188issued 28 Dec. 2010 (12/28/2010)(28.12.2010), and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/978,690 filed 27 Dec. 2010(12/27/2010)(27.12.2010), now U.S. Pat. No. 8,788,966 issued 22 Jul.2014 (07/22/2014)(22.07.2014), and claim priority to and the benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/677,627 filed 15 Nov. 2012(11/15/2012)(15.11.2012), and U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/677,642 filed 15 Nov. 2012 (11/15/2012)(15.11.2012).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of this invention relate to systems, interfaces, apparatusesincluding the interfaces, and methods for implementing the systems,apparatuses, and interfaces, where the systems and interfaces areselection attractive.

More particularly, embodiments of this invention relate to systems,interfaces, apparatuses including the interfaces, and methods forimplementing the systems and interfaces, where selection attractive ormanipulation systems and interfaces use movement of a selectionobject(s) to discriminate between displayed objects and attract a targetobject, objects or groups of objects, or fields of objects or objectattributes toward, away or at angles to or from the selection object,where the direction and speed of motion controls discrimination andattraction. The selection object may be a group of objects or a fieldcreated by any kind of waveform as well.

2. Description of the Related Art

Selection interfaces are ubiquitous throughout computer software anduser interface software. Most of these interfaces require motion andselection operations controlled by hard selection protocols such astapping, clicking, double tapping, double clicking, keys strokes,gestures, or other so-called hard selection protocols.

In previous applications, the inventor and inventors have describedmotion based systems and interfaces that utilize motion and changes inmotion direction to invoke command functions such as scrolling andsimultaneously selection and activation commands. See for example U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,831,932 and 7,861,188, incorporated herein by operation ofthe closing paragraph of the specification.

More recently, the inventor has described motion based systems andinterfaces that utilize velocity and/or acceleration as well as motiondirection to invoke command functions such as scrolling andsimultaneously selection and activation commands. See for example U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/885,453 filed Oct. 1, 2013 (1Oct. 2013).

While there are many systems and interfaces for permitting users toselect and activate a target object(s) from lists and/or sublists oftarget object(s) using movement attributes, where the movementattributes act to discriminate and attract or manipulate or influencethe target object(s) or attributes of target object(s). Multiple layersof objects may have attributes changes, where the attribute of one layermay be different or to a different degree than other layers, but theyare all affected and relational in some way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION General Aspects Systems, Apparatuses,Interfaces, and Methods

Embodiments of this invention relate to systems, apparatuses,interfaces, and methods of this invention for implementing the systems,apparatuses, and/or interfaces are based on attractive or manipulativeselection invoked solely and partially by motion sensed by motionsensors associated with the systems, apparatuses, and/or interfaces. Themanipulative selection actions may be attractive, repulsive, or arelative affect due to other objects being moved in an attractivemanner, a repulsive manner, or a combination thereof, or based upon anangle or proximity to a desired object or objects. The systems andapparatuses account for the manipulative effects based upon proximity,direction, speed and/or acceleration of the selection object toward adesired object or set of objects. The objects may comprise real orvirtual objects, real world devices, software, software components,attributes, active areas of sensors, software, or fields of emf or otherwaveforms and may be remotely controlled. The motion of the selectionobject or objects may be a machine, an animal or body parts or parts, ahuman or body part or parts, or a real world object, field, or waveformunder the control of a human, machine, an animal, or software program orsystem.

Apparatuses and Systems

Embodiments of this invention provide apparatuses or systems forselecting and activating virtual and/or real objects and/or attributesassociated therewith. The apparatuses include at least one userinterface. The interfaces include at least one (one or a plurality of)user feedback unit, at least one motion sensors having active sensingzones or active view fields, and at least one processing unit incommunication with the user feedback units, and the motion sensors. Theinterfaces may also include at least one power supply, at least onebattery backup, and communications software and hardware for remotecontrol and/or remote monitoring. The motion sensors detect motion ormovement within their active sensing zones, generate sensor outputsignals, and send or forward the output signals to the processing units.The processing units convert the output signals into command and controloutputs. Of course, these components, user interfaces, user feedbackunits, motion sensors, and processing units, may all be combined inwhole or part. The apparatus may also include at least one object, realor virtual, under the control of the apparatus via the processing units.The command and control outputs may include start commands, whichactivate the user interface, the user feedback units and may generate auser discernible selection or cursor object, by user discernible theinventor means that the selection or cursor object is capable of beingsensed by one of the five senses of an animal or a human, e.g., visual,audio, audiovisual, tactile or touch, hot or cold, smell or odor, tasteor flavor, or any combination thereof. However, the selection or cursorobject may also be invisible and/or non-discernible—just a virtualelement used internally in applying the sensed motion or movement.

Once activated, the user interfaces via the user feedback units may alsodisplay at least one selectable object. Alternatively, once activated,movement of the selection object will cause a selectable object or agroup of selectable objects or a pre-selected selectable object or agroup of pre-selected selectable objects to move toward the selectionobject, or to move at an angle to the selection object, or away from theselection object for the purpose of eventually choosing a particularselectable object or a particular group of selectable objects orselectable attributes associated with particular object(s) orcontrollable attributes associate with particular object(s). Thepre-selected selectable object or the group of pre-selected selectableobjects are the display object(s) that are most closely aligned with adirection of motion of the selection object. For examples, if the sensedinitial motion or movement was in the +y direction, then the userinterface would cause the user feedback unit(s) to evidence thoseselectable object that are associated with the +y direction and attractthose in the specific direction toward the selection object.

Another aspect of the interfaces of this invention is that the fasterthe selection object moves toward the pre-selected selectable object orthe group of pre-selected selectable objects, the faster thepre-selected selectable object or the group of preselected selectableobjects move toward the selection object.

Another aspect of the interfaces of this invention is that as thepre-selected selectable object or the group of pre-selected selectableobjects move toward the selection object, the pre-selected selectableobject or the group of pre-selected selectable objects may also increasein size, change color, become highlighted, have other effects change, ormixtures or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the interfaces of this invention is that each objectthat has at least one adjustable attribute includes an adjustable activeareas associated with each adjustable attribute associated with theobjects that become displayed as the selectable object is augmented bythe motion. Moreover, as the selectable object becomes more certain ofselection, the adjustable active areas may increase in size as theselection object moves toward the selectable object or “gravity” pullsthe selectable object toward the selection object. The active areapermits selection to be made prior to any actual contact with theobject, and allows selection to be made merely by moving in thedirection of the desired object. The active area may be thought of as ahalo effect surrounding the object activated by motion toward theobject.

Another aspect of the interfaces of this invention is that as motioncontinues, the motion will start to discriminate between members of agroup of pre-selected objects until the motion results in the selectionof a single displayed (discernible) object or a group of displayed(discernible) objects. As the motion continues, the display will beginto discriminate between objects that are aligned with the motion andobjects that are not, emphasizing the selectable objects aligned withthe motion (i.e., objects in the direction of motion) and de-emphasizingthe non-selectable objects not aligned with the motion (i.e., objectsaway from the direction of motion), where the emphasis may be any changein object(s) properties, changes in object(s) positions, or acombination thereof and the de-emphasis may be any change in theobject(s) properties, changes in object(s) positions, or combinationthereof.

Another aspect of the interfaces of this invention is the display,movement, and positioning of sublist members or attributes associatedwith object(s) may be simultaneous and synchronous or asynchronous withthe movement and display of the selectable object(s) or displayobject(s) being influenced by the motion of the selection object(s).Once the selection object and a selectable display object touch or theselection object and a selectable display object active area touch orthe selection object and a selectable display object is predicted with athreshold degree of certainty, a triggering threshold event (this may bethe distance of proximity or probability without ever touching), theselectable object(s) is selected and non-selected display object areremoved from the display or fade away or become less prominent or changein such a way that they are recognizable as the non-selected object(s)and the selected object is centered within the display or at apredetermined position, is adjusted to a desired amount if an adjustableattribute, or is executed if the selected object(s) is an attribute orselection command, or any combination of these. If the object is anexecutable object such as taking a photo, turning on a device, etc.,then the execution is simultaneous or acts in a predetermined way withselection. If the object has a submenu, sublist or list of attributesassociated with the selected object, then the submenu members, sublistmembers or attributes may become displayed on the screen is a spacedapart or differentiated format either after selection or during theselection process, with their distribution becoming more defined as theselection becomes more and more certain. The same procedure used toselect the selected object is then used to select a member of thesubmenu, sublist or attribute list. This same effect may occur with acombination of executable, submenu, sublist, and listing attributes.Thus, the interfaces have a gravity or attractive like action ondisplayed selectable objects. As the selection object moves, it attractsan object or objects in alignment with the direction of the selectionobject's motion pulling those object toward it, and may simultaneouslyrepel other objects not aligned with the selection object's motion,causing them to move away or be identified as non-selected objects. Asmotion continues or a velocity or acceleration of the motion increase,the pull increases on the object(s) most aligned with the direction ofmotion, further accelerating the object toward the selection objectuntil they touch, merge, or cause a triggering selection event, or acombination thereof. If two objects are along the same line or zone, andthe closer of the two is attracted or selected as motion occurs towardthe user, and motion continues in line, the first object may be treatedlike a non-wanted object and the second desired object is selected. Ifmotion is stopped or slowed to a predetermined threshold amount at thefirst object, it is considered selected. If motion continues at thefirst object, it is considered not selected. The touch, merge ortriggering event causes the processing unit to select and activate theobject, active an object sublist or memu, or active an attribute forcontrol, or a combination thereof.

Methods

Embodiments of this invention provide methods for implementing theselection protocol using the user interfaces of this invention. Themethods include selecting and activating selectable objects, selectingand activating members of a selectable list of virtual and/or realobjects, selecting and activating selectable attributes associated withthe objects, selecting and activating and adjusting selectableattributes, or combinations thereof, where the interfaces include atleast one display or other user feedback unit, at least one motionsensor, and at least one processing unit in communication with the userfeedback units and the motion sensors. The interfaces also may includepower supplies, battery backups, and communications software andhardware for remote control and/or remote monitoring. The methodsinclude sensing motion or movement sensed by the motion sensor(s),generating an output signal and sending the output signal to theprocessing unit. The methods also include converting the output signalinto a command output via the processing unit. The command output may bea start command, which activates the feedback unit or activates thefeedback unit and generates at least one selection or cursor object oractivates the feedback unit and generates at least one selectable objector activates the feedback unit and generates at least one selection orcursor object and at least one selectable object. The selection objectmay be discernible or not (displayed or not). The motion may begenerated by an animal or body part or parts, a human or body part orparts, a machine, or a real world object under control of an animal, ahuman, or a robot or robotic system, especially when the motion beingsensed is within a 3D active sensing volume or zone. Once activated, themethods monitor sensed motion or movement within the active zone(s) ofthe motion sensor(s), which is used to move the selection object on orwithin the user feedback unit in accord with the motion properties(direction, velocity, acceleration, and changes of one or more of theseproperties) toward a selectable object or a group of selectable objectsor a pre-selected object or a group of pre-selected objects. At the sametime, the methods either move the non-selected objects away from theselection object(s), cause the non-selected object to fade, disappear orother change other properties of the non-selected objects, orcombinations thereof. The pre-selected object or the group ofpre-selected objects are the selectable object(s) that are most closelyaligned with the direction of motion of the selection object.

Another aspect of the methods of this invention is that movement towardsan executable area, such as a close/expand/maximize/minimize functionarea(s) or object(s) of a software window in an upper right corner maycause an executable function(s) to occur, such as causing the object(s)to expand or move apart so as to provide more space between them and tomake it easier to select each individual object or a group of objects.

Another aspect of the methods of this invention include interfaces isthat object selection or menu selection may be grouped together suchthat as movement is made towards a group of objects, the group ofobjects simultaneous rearrange themselves so as to make individualobject selection or menu selection easier, including moving arcuately orto corners of a designated area so as to make discrimination of thedesired selection easier.

Another aspect of the interface is that proximity to the selectionobject may cause the selectable objects most aligned with the propertiesof the sensed motion to expand, separate, or otherwise move in such away so as to make object discrimination easier, which in turn may causeassociated subobjects or submenus to be able to be selected by movingthe subobjects or submenus towards the selection object. Additionally,they could be selected or activated by moving into an active areadesignated by distance, area or volume from or around such objects,thereby selecting the object functions, menus or subobjects or submenus.The movement or attribute change of the subobjects or submenus may occursynchronously or asynchronously with the movement of the primaryobject(s).

Another aspect of the interfaces is that the faster the selection objectmoves toward the pre-selected object or the group of preselectedobjects, the faster the pre-selected object or the group of preselectedobjects move toward the selection object(s), and/or the faster theunselected objects may move away from the selection object(s).

Another aspect of the interfaces is that as the pre-selected (meaningthe objects that are most closely aligned with the properties of themotion) object or the group of pre-selected objects move toward theselection object, the pre-selected object or the group of pre-selectedobjects may either increase in size, change color, become highlighted,change some other effect, change some characteristic or attribute, or acombination thereof. These same, similar or opposite changes may occurto the unselected objects or unselected group of objects. Another aspectis that, based upon a user's previous choices, habits, motions orpredicted motions, the attributes of the objects may be changes suchthat they move faster, increase in size or zone, or change in such a waythat the object with the highest percentage of user intent is theeasiest and most likely to be selected as shown in FIG. 4 and describedin the associated text below.

Another aspect of the interfaces is that as motion continues, the motionwill start to discriminate between members of the group of pre-selectedobject until the motion results in the selection of a single selectableor displayed object or a single group of selectable objects. Once theselection object and a selectable object active area touch or theselection object and a selectable display object is predicted with athreshold degree of certainty, a triggering threshold event (this may bethe distance of proximity or probability without ever touching), theselectable object is selected and non-selected object are removed fromthe display or fade away or become less prominent or change in such away that they are recognizable as non-selected object(s). Once selected,the selected object may become centered within the display or at apredetermined position within the display. If the selected object has asingle adjustable attribute, then motion may adjust the attribute adesired or pre-defined amount. If the selected object is executable,then the selected object is invoked. If the selected object is anattribute or selection command, then the attribute may be adjusted byadditional motion or the selection may invoke a command function. Ofcourse, the systems may do all or any combination of these processes. Ifthe object is an executable object such as taking a photo, turning on adevice, etc., then the execution is simultaneous or acts in apredetermined way with the selection. If the object is a submenu,sublist or list of attributes associated with the selected object, thenthe submenu members, sublist members or attributes are displayed on thescreen in a spaced apart format or appear as the selection becomes morecertain and then persist once selection is certain or confirmed. Thesame procedure used to select the selected object is then used to selecta member of the submenu, a member of the sublist or a particularattribute. Thus, the interfaces have a gravity like action on displayedselectable objects that move them toward the selection objection ascertainty increases. As the selection object moves, it attracts anobject or objects in alignment or relation with the properties of thesensed motions (direction, speed, acceleration, or changes in any ofthese primary properties) of the selection object pulling the object(s)meeting this criterion toward the selection object. Simultaneously,synchronously or asynchronously, submenus or subobjects may becomevisible if they were not so to begin with and may also move or change inrelation to the movement or changes of the selected objects.Simultaneously, synchronously, or asynchronously, the non-selectedobjects may move or change away from the selection object(s). As motioncontinues, the pull increases on the object most aligned with theproperties (e.g., direction) of motion or movement, further moving oraccelerating the object toward the selection object until they touch,merge, or reach a triggering event—close enough to touch an active areaor to predicted the selection to a threshold certainty. The touch,merge, or triggering event causes the processing unit to select andactivate the object. The object(s) may also be defined as an area inbetween objects, giving a gate-like effect to provide selection ofsub-menu or sub-objects that are aligned with the motion of theselection object and are located between, behind, or at the same anglebut a different distance than this gate. Furthermore, a back object orarea may be incorporated to undo or reverse effects or changes ormotions that have occurred to objects, whether selectable or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdetailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings inwhich like elements are numbered the same:

FIGS. 1A-M depict a motion-based selection sequence using an attractiveinterface of this invention: (A) shows a display prior to activation bymotion of a motion sensor in communication with the display; (B) depictsthe display after activation to display a selection object and aplurality of selectable objects; (C) depicts the display after theselection object is moved toward a group of selectable objects; (Ddepicts the display after the group of selectable objects are pulledtoward the selection object; E depicts the display showing furthermovement of the selection object causing a discrimination between theobjects of the group, where the selection object touches one of thegroup members; F depicts the display showing the touched member and theselection object with the non-touched objects returned to their previouslocation; G depicts the display showing a merger of the selected objectand the selection object repositioned to the center of the display; (H)depicts the display showing the selected object and the selection objectand the elements associated with the selected object; (I) depicts thedisplay after the selection object is moved toward a group of selectablesubobjects, which have moved toward the selection object and increasedin size; (J) depicts the display after the selection object is moved ina different direction directly toward another selectable subobject,which has moved toward the selection object and increased in size; (K)depicts the display after further motion of the selection object touchesthe selectable subobject; (L) depicts the display after merger of theselection object and the selected subobject, which is executed uponselection; and (M) depicts this display after merger and activation ofthe selected member of FIG. 1G.

FIG. 2A-W depict another motion-based selection sequence using anattractive interface of this invention: (A) depicts a display prior toactivation by motion of a motion sensor in communication with thedisplay; (B) depicts the display after activation to display a selectionobject and a plurality of selectable objects; (C) depicts the displayafter the selection object is moved toward a selectable object causingit to move toward the selection objects and causing subobjectsassociated with the attracted object; (D) depicts the display showingfurther movement of the selection object and touching attracted object;(E) depicts the display showing the selection object touched by theselection object; (F) depicts the display showing the selection objectmerged with the selected object and recentered in the display; (G)depicts the display after the selection object is moved toward a firstselectable subobject; (H) depicts the display merged with a selectedsubobject and simultaneous activation of the subobject; (I) depicts thedisplay after the selection object is moved toward the other selectablesubobject; (J) depicts the display merged with a selected subobject andsimultaneous activation of the other subobject; (K) depicts the displaywith motion of the selection object away from the selected object andaway from any subobjects; (L) depicts the display after moving awaycausing the original selection display to reappear; (M) depicts thedisplay after the selection object is moved toward a second selectablesubobject causing the second object to move toward and increase in sizeand simultaneously display associated subobjects; (N) depicts thedisplay after movement of the selection object into contact with thesecond selectable object; (O) depicts the display after selection of thesecond selectable object now merged and centered with the subobjectsdistributed about the selected second object; (P) depicts the displayafter the selection object is moved toward a desired subobject; (Q)depicts the display after merger with the subobject simultaneouslyactivating the subobject; (R) depicts the display after the selectionobject is moved toward a second selectable subobject causing the thirdobject to move toward and increase in size and simultaneously displayassociated subobjects; (S) depicts the display after movement of theselection object into contact with the third selectable object; (T)depicts the display after selection of the third selectable object nowmerged and centered with the subobjects distributed about the selectedthird selectable object; (U) depicts the display after the selectionobject is moved toward a fourth selectable subobject causing the fourthobject to move toward the selection object and increase in size; (V)depicts the display after movement of the selection object into contactwith the fourth selectable object; and (W) depicts the display afterselection of the fourth selectable object now merged and centered andthe object activated.

FIG. 3A-I depict another motion-based selection sequence using anattractive interface of this invention: (A) depicts a display prior toactivation by motion of a motion sensor in communication with the; (B)depicts the display after activation to display a top level ofselectable object clusters distributed about a centroid in the displayarea; (C) depicts the objects within each cluster; (D) depicts thedisplay showing a direction of motion detected by a motion sensor sensedby motion of a body or body part within an active zone of the motionsensor; (E) depicts the display showing prediction of the most probablecluster aligned with the direction of motion sensed by the motion sensorand the display of the cluster objects associated with the predictedcluster; (F) depicts the display showing a dispersal of the clusterobjects for enhanced discrimination and showing an augmented directionof motion detected by the motion sensor sensed by motion of a body partwithin the active zone of the motion sensor; (G) depicts the displayshowing an attraction of the object discriminated by the last portiondisplayed in a more spaced apart configuration; (H) depicts the displayshowing a further augmentation of the direction of motion detected by amotion sensor sensed by motion of a body or body part within the activezone of the motion sensor permitting full discrimination of the clusterobjects; and (I) depicts the display showing the centering of theselected and activation of the selected cluster object.

FIGS. 4A-D depict a motion based selection sequence including anobjection and a selectable object as motion toward the selectable objectincreases causing an active area to form in front of the selectableobject and increasing in scope as the selection object move closer tothe selectable object until selection is within a threshold certainty.

FIG. 5A-Q depict another motion-based selection sequence using anattractive interface of this invention: (A) depicts a display prior toactivation by motion of a motion sensor in communication with thedisplay; (B) depicts the display after activation to display a selectionobject and a plurality of selectable objects; (C) depicts the displayafter the selection object is moved toward a selectable object causingit to move toward the selection objects and causing subobjectsassociated with the attracted object; (D) depicts the display showingfurther movement of the selection object and touching attracted; (E)depicts the display showing the selection object touched by theselection object; (F) depicts the display showing the selection objectmerged with the selected object and recentered in the display; (G)depicts the display after the selection object is moved toward a firstselectable subobject; (H) depicts the display merged with a selectedsubobject and simultaneous activation of the subobject; (I) depicts thedisplay after the selection object is moved toward the other selectablesubobject; (J) depicts the display merged with a selected subobject andsimultaneous activation of the other subobject; (K) depicts the displaywith motion of the selection object away from the selected object andaway from any subobjects; (L depicts the display after moving awaycausing the original selection display to reappear; (M) depicts thedisplay after the selection object is moved toward a second selectablesubobject causing the second object to move toward and increase in sizeand simultaneously display associated subobjects; (N) depicts thedisplay after movement of the selection object into contact with thesecond selectable object; (O) depicts the display after selection of thesecond selectable object now merged and centered with the subobjectsdistributed about the selected second object; (P) depicts the displayafter the selection object is moved toward a desired subobject; and (Q)depicts the display after merger with the subobject simultaneouslyactivating the subobject.

FIG. 6A depict a display prior to activation by motion of a motionsensor in communication with the display including an active object, aset of phone number objects, a backspace object (BS) and a delete object(Del) and a phone number display object.

FIGS. 6B-K depict the selection of a phone number from the display viamotion of the active object from one phone number object to the nextwithout any selection process save movement.

FIGS. 6L-R depict the used of the backspace object and the delete objectto correct the selected phone number display after the selection objectis moved toward a selectable object causing it to move toward theselection objects and causing subobjects associated with the attractedobject.

DEFINITIONS USED IN THE INVENTION

The term “at least one” means one or more or one or a plurality,additionally, these three terms may be used interchangeably within thisapplication. For example, at least one device means one or more devicesor one device and a plurality of devices.

The term “one or a plurality” means one item or a plurality of items.

The term “about” means that a value of a given quantity is within ±20%of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±15% ofthe stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±10% of thestated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±5% of thestated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2.5% of thestated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±1% of thestated value.

The term “substantially” means that a value of a given quantity iswithin ±10% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value iswithin ±5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value iswithin ±2.5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value iswithin ±1% of the stated value.

The term “motion” and “movement” are often used interchangeably and meanmotion or movement that is capable of being detected by a motion sensorwithin an active zone of the sensor. Thus, if the sensor is a forwardviewing sensor and is capable of sensing motion within a forwardextending conical active zone, then movement of anything within thatactive zone that meets certain threshold detection criteria, will resultin a motion sensor output, where the output may include at leastdirection, velocity, and/or acceleration. Of course, the sensors do notneed to have threshold detection criteria, but may simply generateoutput anytime motion or any kind is detected. The processing units canthen determine whether the motion is an actionable motion or movementand a non-actionable motion or movement.

The term “motion sensor” or “motion sensing component” means any sensoror component capable of sensing motion of any kind by anything with anactive zone—area or volume, regardless of whether the sensor's orcomponent's primary function is motion sensing.

The term “real object” or “real world object” means any real worlddevice or article that is capable of being controlled by a processingunit. Real objects include objects or articles that have real worldpresence including physical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic,electro-magnetic, electrical, or electronic devices or any other realworld device that can be controlled by a processing unit.

The term “virtual object” means any construct generated in a virtualworld or by a computer and displayed by a display device and that arecapable of being controlled by a processing unit. Virtual objectsinclude objects that have no real world presence, but are stillcontrollable by a processing unit. These objects include elements withina software system, product or program such as icons, list elements, menuelements, generated graphic objects, 2D and 3D graphic images orobjects, generated real world objects such as generated people,generated animals, generated devices, generated plants, generatedlandscapes and landscape objects, generate seascapes and seascapeobjects, generated skyscapes or skyscape objects, or any other generatedreal world or imaginary objects.

The term “entity” means a human or an animal or robot or robotic system(autonomous or non-autonomous.

The term “entity object” means a human or a part of a human (fingers,hands, toes, feet, arms, legs, eyes, head, body, etc.), an animal or aport of an animal (fingers, hands, toes, feet, arms, legs, eyes, head,body, etc.), or a real world object under the control of a human or ananimal or a robot and include such articles as pointers, sticks, or anyother real world object that can be directly or indirectly controlled bya human or animal or a robot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has found that selection attractive or manipulativeapparatuses, systems, and/or interfaces may be constructed that usemotion or movement within an active sensor zone of a motion sensortranslated to motion or movement of a selection object on or within auser feedback device: 1) to discriminate between selectable objectsbased on the motion, 2) to attract target selectable objects towards theselection object based on properties of the sensed motion includingdirection, speed, acceleration, or changes thereof, and 3) to select andsimultaneously activate a particular or target selectable object or aspecific group of selectable objects or controllable area or anattribute or attributes upon “contact” of the selection object with thetarget selectable object(s), where contact means that: 1) the selectionobject actually touches or moves inside the target selectable object, 2)touches or moves inside an active zone (area or volume) surrounding thetarget selectable object, 3) the selection object and the targetselectable object merge, 4) a triggering event occurs based on a closeapproach to the target selectable object or its associated active zoneor 5) a triggering event based on a predicted selection meeting athreshold certainty. The touch, merge, or triggering event causes theprocessing unit to select and activate the object, select and activeobject attribute lists, select, activate and adjustments of anadjustable attribute. The objects may represent real and/or virtualobjects including: 1) real world devices under the control of theapparatuses, systems, or interfaces, 2) real world device attributes andreal world device controllable attributes, 3) software includingsoftware products, software systems, software components, softwareobjects, software attributes, active areas of sensors, 4) generated emffields, Rf fields, microwave fields, or other generated fields, 5)electromagnetic waveforms, sonic waveforms, ultrasonic waveforms, and/or6) mixture and combinations thereof. The apparatuses, systems andinterfaces of this invention may also include remote control units inwired or wireless communication therewith. The inventor has also foundthat a velocity (speed and direction) of motion or movement can be usedby the apparatuses, systems, or interfaces to pull or attract one or agroup of selectable objects toward a selection object and increasingspeed may be used to increase a rate of the attraction of the objects,while decreasing motion speed may be used to slower a rate of attractionof the objects. The inventors have also found that as the attractedobject move toward the selection object, they may be augmented in someway such as changed size, changed color, changed shape, changed linethickness of the form of the object, highlighted, changed to blinking,or combinations thereof. Simultaneously, synchronously orasynchronously, submenus or subobjects may also move or change inrelation to the movements or changes of the selected objects.Simultaneously, synchronously or asynchronously, the non-selectedobjects may move away from the selection object(s). It should be notedthat whenever a word object is used, it also includes the meaning ofobjects, and these objects may be simultaneously performing separate,simultaneous, and/or combined command functions or used by theprocessing units to issue combinational functions.

in certain embodiments, as the selection object moves toward a targetobject, the target object will get bigger as it moves toward theselection object. It is important to conceptualize the effect we arelooking for. The effect may be analogized to the effects of gravity onobjects in space. Two objects in space are attracted to each other bygravity proportional to the product of their masses and inverselyproportional to the square of the distance between the objects. As theobjects move toward each other, the gravitational force increasespulling them toward each other faster and faster. The rate of attractionincreases as the distance decreases, and they become larger as they getcloser. Contrarily, if the objects are close and one is moved away, thegravitational force decreases and the objects get smaller. In thepresent invention, motion of the selection object away from a selectableobject may act as a rest, returning the display back to the originalselection screen or back to the last selection screen much like a “back”or “undo” event. Thus, if the user feedback unit (e.g., display) is onelevel down from the top display, then movement away from any selectableobject, would restore the display back to the main level. If the displaywas at some sublevel, then movement away from selectable objects in thissublevel would move up a sublevel. Thus, motion away from selectableobjects acts to drill up, while motion toward selectable objects thathave sublevels results in a drill down operation. Of course, if theselectable object is directly activatable, then motion toward it selectsand activates it. Thus, if the object is an executable routine such astaking a picture, then contact with the selection object, contact withits active area, or triggered by a predictive threshold certaintyselection selects and simultaneously activates the object. Once theinterface is activated, the selection object and a default menu of itemsmay be activated on or within the user feedback unit. If the directionof motion towards the selectable object or proximity to the active areaaround the selectable object is such that the probability of selectionis increased, the default menu of items may appear or move into aselectable position, or take the place of the initial object before theobject is actually selected such that by moving into the active area orby moving in a direction such that a commit to the object occurs, andsimultaneously causes the subobjects or submenus to move into a positionready to be selected by just moving in their direction to causeselection or activation or both, or by moving in their direction untilreaching an active area in proximity to the objects such that selection,activation or a combination of the two occurs. The selection object andthe selectable objects (menu objects) are each assigned a massequivalent or gravitational value of 1. The difference between whathappens as the selection object moves in the display area towards aselectable object in the present interface, as opposed to real life, isthat the selectable objects only feel the gravitation effect from theselection object and not from the other selectable objects. Thus, in thepresent invention, the selectable object is an attractor, while theselectable objects are non-interactive, or possibly even repulsive toeach other. So as the selection object is moved in response to motion bya user within the motion sensors active zone—such as motion of a fingerin the active zone—the processing unit maps the motion and generatescorresponding movement or motion of the selection object towardsselectable objects in the general direction of the motion. Theprocessing unit then determines the projected direction of motion andbased on the projected direction of motion, allows the gravitationalfield or attractive force of the selection object to be felt by thepredicted selectable object or objects that are most closely alignedwith the direction of motion. These objects may also include submenus orsubobjects that move in relation to the movement of the selectedobject(s). This effect would be much like a field moving and expandingor fields interacting with fields, where the objects inside the field(s)would spread apart and move such that unique angles from the selectionobject become present so movement towards a selectable object or groupof objects can be discerned from movement towards a different object orgroup of objects, or continued motion in the direction of the second ormore of objects in a line would cause the objects to not be selectedthat had been touched or had close proximity, but rather the selectionwould be made when the motion stops, or the last object in the directionof motion is reached, and it would be selected. The processing unitcauses the display to move those object toward the selectable object.The manner in which the selectable object moves may be to move at aconstant velocity towards a selection object or to accelerate toward theselection object with the magnitude of the acceleration increasing asthe movement focuses in on the selectable object. The distance moved bythe person and the speed or acceleration may further compound the rateof attraction or movement of the selectable object towards the selectionobject. In certain situations, a negative attractive force orgravitational effect may be used when it is more desired that theselected objects move away from the user. Such motion of the objectswould be opposite of that described above as attractive. As motioncontinues, the processing unit is able to better discriminate betweencompeting selectable objects and the one or ones more closely alignedare pulled closer and separated, while others recede back to theiroriginal positions or are removed or fade. If the motion is directlytoward a particular selectable object with a certainty above a thresholdvalue, which has a certainty of greater than 50%, then the selection andselectable objects merge and the selectable object is simultaneouslyselected and activated. Alternatively, the selectable object may beselected prior to merging with the selection object if the direction,speed and/or acceleration of the selection object is such that theprobability of the selectable object is enough to cause selection, or ifthe movement is such that proximity to the activation area surroundingthe selectable object is such that the threshold for selection,activation or both occurs. Motion continues until the processing unit isable to determine that a selectable object has a selection threshold ofgreater than 50%, meaning that it more likely than not the correcttarget object has been selected. In certain embodiments, the selectionthreshold will be at least 60%. In other embodiments, the selectionthreshold will be at least 70%. In other embodiments, the selectionthreshold will be at least 80%. In yet other embodiments, the selectionthreshold will be at least 90%.

in certain embodiments, the selection object will actually appear on thedisplay screen, while in other embodiments, the selection object willexist only virtually in the processor software. For example, for motionsensors that require physical contact for activation such as touchscreens, the selection object may be displayed and/or virtual, withmotion on the screen used to determine which selectable objects from adefault collection of selectable objects will be moved toward aperceived or predefined location of a virtual section object or towardthe selection object in the case of a displayed selection object, whilea virtual object simply exists in software such as at a center of thedisplay or a default position to which selectable object are attracted,when the motion aligns with their locations on the default selection. Inthe case of motion sensors that have active zones such as cameras, IRsensors, sonic sensors, or other sensors capable of detecting motionwithin an active zone and creating an output representing that motion toa processing unit that is capable of determining direction, speed and/oracceleration properties of the sensed or detected motion, the selectionobject is generally virtual and motion of one or more body parts of auser is used to attract a selectable object or a group of selectableobjects to the location of the selection object and predictive softwareis used to narrow the group of selectable objects and zero in on aparticular selectable object, objects, objects and attributes, and/orattributes. In certain embodiments, the interface is activated from asleep condition by movement of a user or user body part in to the activezone of the motion sensor or sensors associated with the interface. Onceactivated, the feedback unit such as a display associated with theinterface displays or evidences in a user discernible manner a defaultset of selectable objects or a top level set of selectable objects. Theselectable objects may be clustered in related groups of similar objectsor evenly distributed about a centroid of attraction if no selectionobject is generated on the display or in or on another type of feedbackunit. If one motion sensor is sensitive to eye motion, then motion ofthe eyes will be used to attract and discriminate between potentialtarget objects on the feedback unit such as a display screen. If theinterface is an eye only interface, then eye motion is used to attractand discriminate selectable objects to the centroid, with selection andactivation occurring when a selection threshold is exceeded—greater than50% confidence that one selectable object is more closely aligned withthe direction of motion than all other objects. The speed and/oracceleration of the motion along with the direction are further used toenhance discrimination by pulling potential target objects toward thecentroid quicker and increasing their size and/or increasing theirrelative separation. Proximity to the selectable object may also be usedto confirm the selection. Alternatively, if the interface is an eye andother body part interface, then eye motion will act as the primarymotion driver, with motion of the other body part acting as aconfirmation of eye movement selections. Thus, if eye motion hasnarrowed the selectable objects to a group, motion of the other bodypart may be used by the processing unit to further discriminate and/orselect/activate a particular object or if a particular object meets thethreshold and is merging with the centroid, then motion of the objectbody part may be used to confirm or reject the selection regardless ofthe threshold confidence. In other embodiments, the motion sensor andprocessing unit may have a set of predetermined actions that are invokedby a given structure of a body part or a given combined motion of two ormore body parts. For example, upon activation, if the motion sensor iscapable of analyzing images, a hand holding up different number offigures from zero, a fist, to five, an open hand may cause theprocessing unit to display different base menus. For example, a firstmay cause the processing unit to display the top level menu, while asingle finger may cause the processing unit to display a particularsubmenu. Once a particular set of selectable objects is displayed, thenmotion attracts the target object, which is simultaneously selected andactivated. In other embodiments, confirmation may include a noisedgenerated by the uses such as a word, a vocal noise, a predefined vocalnoise, a clap, a snap, or other audio controlled sound generated by theuser; in other embodiments, confirmation may be visual, audio or hapticeffects or a combination of such effects.

Embodiments of this invention provide methods and systems implementingthe methods comprising the steps of sensing circular movement via amotion sensor, where the circular movement is sufficient to activate ascroll wheel, scrolling through a list associated with the scroll wheel,where movement close to the center causes a faster scroll, whilemovement further from the center causes a slower scroll andsimultaneously faster circular movement causes a faster scroll whileslower circular movement causes slower scroll. When the user stops thecircular motion, even for a very brief time, the list becomes static sothat the user may move to a particular object, hold over a particularobject, or change motion direction at or near a particular object. Thewhole wheel or a partial amount of the wheel may be displayed, or justand arc may be displayed where scrolling moves up and down the arc.These actions cause the processing unit to select the particular object,to simultaneously select and activate the particular object, or tosimultaneously select, activate, and control an attribute of the object.By beginning the circular motion again, anywhere on the screen,scrolling recommences immediately. Of course, scrolling could be througha list of values, or actually be controlling values as well.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide methods and systemsimplementing the methods including the steps of displaying an arcuatemenu layouts of selectable objects on a display field, sensing movementtoward an object pulling the object toward the center based on adirection, a speed and/or an acceleration of the movement, as theselected object moves toward the center, displaying subobjects appeardistributed in an arcuate spaced apart configuration about the selectedobject. The apparatus, system and methods can repeat the sensing anddisplaying operations.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of predicting an object'sselection based on the properties of the sensed movement, where theproperties includes direction, speed, acceleration, changes thereof, orcombinations thereof. For example, faster speed may increasepredictability, while slower speed may decrease predictability or visaversa. Alternatively, moving averages may be used to extrapolate thedesired object desired. Along with this is the “gravitational”,“electric” and/or “magnetic” attractive or repulsive effects utilized bythe methods and systems, whereby the selectable objects move towards theuser or selection object and accelerates towards the user or selectionobject as the user or selection object and selectable objects comecloser together. This may also occur by the user beginning motiontowards a particular selectable object, the particular selectable objectbegins to accelerate towards the user or the selection object, and theuser and the selection object stops moving, but the particularselectable object continues to accelerate towards the user or selectionobject. In the certain embodiments, the opposite effect occurs as theuser or selection objects moves away—starting close to each other, theparticular selectable object moves away quickly, but slows down its rateof repulsion as distance is increased, making a very smooth look. Indifferent uses, the particular selectable object might accelerate awayor return immediately to it's original or predetermined position. In anyof these circumstances, a dynamic interaction is occurring between theuser or selection object and the particular selectable object(s), whereselecting and controlling, and deselecting and controlling can occur,including selecting and controlling or deselecting and controllingassociated submenus or subobjects and/or associated attributes,adjustable or invocable.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of detecting at least onebio-kinetic characteristic of a user such as a fingerprint,fingerprints, a palm print, retinal print, size, shape, and texture offingers, palm, eye(s), hand(s), face, etc. or at least one EMF,acoustic, thermal or optical characteristic detectable by sonic sensors,thermal sensors, optical sensors, capacitive sensors, resistive sensors,or other sensor capable of detecting EMF fields or othercharacteristics, or combinations thereof emanating from a user,including specific movements and measurements of movements of body partssuch as fingers or eyes that provide unique markers for each individual,determining an identity of the user from the bio-kineticcharacteristics, and sensing movement as set forth herein. In this way,the existing sensor for motion may also recognize the user uniquely.This recognition may be further enhanced by using two or more body partsor bio-kinetic characteristics (e.g., two fingers), and even further bybody parts performing a particular task such as being squeezed together,when the user enters in a sensor field. Other bio-kinetic and/orbiometric characteristics may also be used for unique useridentification such as skin characteristics and ratio to joint lengthand spacing. Further examples include the relationship between thefinger(s), hands or other body parts and the interference patterncreated by the body parts creates a unique constant and may be used as aunique digital signature. For instance, a finger in a 3D acoustic or EMFfield would create unique null and peak points or a unique null and peakpattern, so the “noise” of interacting with a field may actually help tocreate unique identifiers. This may be further discriminated by moving acertain distance, where the motion may be uniquely identified by smalltremors, variations, or the like, further magnified by interferencepatterns in the noise. This type of unique identification is mostapparent when using a touchless sensor or array of touchless sensors,where interference patterns (for example using acoustic sensors) may bepresent due to the size and shape of the hands or fingers, or the like.Further uniqueness may be determined by including motion as anotherunique variable, which may help in security verification.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of sensing movement of afirst body part such as an eye, etc., tracking the first body partmovement until is pauses on an object, preliminarily selecting theobject, sensing movement of a second body part such as finger, hand,foot, etc., confirming the preliminary selection and selecting theobject. The selection may then cause the processing unit to invoke oneof the command and control functions including issuing a scrollfunction, a simultaneous select and scroll function, a simultaneousselect and activate function, a simultaneous select, activate, andattribute adjustment function, or a combination thereof, and controllingattributes by further movement of the first or second body parts oractivating the objects if the object is subject to direct activation.These selection procedures may be expanded to the eye moving to anobject (scrolling through a list or over a list), the finger or handmoving in a direction to confirm the selection and selecting an objector a group of objects or an attribute or a group of attributes. Incertain embodiments, if object configuration is predetermined such thatan object in the middle of several objects, then the eye may movesomewhere else, but hand motion continues to scroll or controlattributes or combinations thereof, independent of the eyes. Hand andeyes may work together or independently, or a combination in and out ofthe two. Thus, movements may be compound, sequential, simultaneous,partially compound, compound in part, or combinations thereof.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of capturing a movement ofa user during a selection procedure or a plurality of selectionprocedures to produce a raw movement dataset. The methods and systemsalso include the step of reducing the raw movement dataset to produce arefined movement dataset, where the refinement may include reducing themovement to a plurality of linked vectors, to a fit curve, to a splinefit curve, to any other curve fitting format having reduced storagesize, or to any other fitting format. The methods and systems alsoinclude the step of storing the refined movement dataset. The methodsand systems also include the step of analyzing the refined movementdataset to produce a predictive tool for improving the prediction of ausers selection procedure using the motion based system or to produce aforensic tool for identifying the past behavior of the user or toprocess a training tools for training the user interface to improve userinteraction with the interface.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of sensing movement of aplurality of body parts simultaneously or substantially simultaneouslyand converting the sensed movement into control functions forsimultaneously controlling an object or a plurality of objects. Themethods and systems also include controlling an attribute or a pluralityof attributes, or activating an object or a plurality of objects, or anycombination thereof. For example, placing a hand on a top of a domedsurface for controlling a UAV, sensing movement of the hand on the dome,where a direction of movement correlates with a direction of flight,sensing changes in the movement on the top of the domed surface, wherethe changes correlate with changes in direction, speed, or accelerationof functions, and simultaneously sensing movement of one or morefingers, where movement of the fingers may control other features of theUAV such as pitch, yaw, roll, camera focusing, missile firing, etc. withan independent finger(s) movement, while the hand is controlling theUAV, either through remaining stationary (continuing last known command)or while the hand is moving, accelerating, or changing direction ofacceleration. In certain embodiments where the display device isflexible device such as a flexible screen or flexible dome, the movementmay also include deforming the surface of the flexible device, changinga pressure on the surface, or similar surface deformations. Thesedeformations may be used in conjunction with the other motions.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of populating a displayfield with displayed primary objects and hidden secondary objects, wherethe primary objects include menus, programs, devices, etc. and secondaryobjects include submenus, attributes, preferences, etc. The methods andsystems also include sensing movement, highlighting one or more primaryobjects most closely aligned with a direction of the movement,predicting a primary object based on the movement, and simultaneously:(a) selecting the primary object, (b) displaying secondary objects mostclosely aligned with the direction of motion in a spaced apartconfiguration, (c) pulling the primary and secondary objects toward acenter of the display field or to a pre-determined area of the displayfield, and (d) removing, fading, or making inactive the unselectedprimary and secondary objects until making active again.

Alternately, zones in between primary and/or secondary objects may actas activating areas or subroutines that would act the same as theobjects. For instance, if someone were to move in between two objects in3D space, objects in the background could be rotated to the front andthe front objects could be rotated towards the back, or to a differentlevel.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of populating a displayfield with displayed primary objects and offset active fields associatedwith the displayed primary objects, where the primary objects includemenus, object lists, alphabetic characters, numeric characters, symbolcharacters, other text based characters. The methods and systems alsoinclude sensing movement, highlighting one or more primary objects mostclosely aligned with a direction of the movement, predicting a primaryobject based on the movement, and simultaneously: (a) selecting theprimary object, (b) displaying secondary (tertiary or deeper) objectsmost closely aligned with the direction of motion in a spaced apartconfiguration, (c) pulling the primary and secondary or deeper objectstoward a center of the display field or to a pre-determined area of thedisplay field, and/or (d) removing, making inactive, or fading orotherwise indicating non-selection status of the unselected primary,secondary, and deeper level objects.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of sensing movement of aneye and simultaneously moving elements of a list within a fixed windowor viewing pane of a display field or a display or an active objecthidden or visible through elements arranged in a 2D or 3D matrix withinthe display field, where eye movement anywhere, in any direction in adisplay field regardless of the arrangement of elements such as iconsmoves through the set of selectable objects. Of course the window may bemoved with the movement of the eye to accomplish the same scrollingthrough a set of lists or objects, or a different result may occur bythe use of both eye position in relation to a display or volume(perspective), as other motions occur, simultaneously or sequentially.Thus, scrolling does not have to be in a linear fashion, the intent isto select an object and/or attribute and/or other selectable itemsregardless of the manner of motion—linear, arcuate, angular, circular,spiral, random, or the like. Once an object of interest is to beselected, then selection is accomplished either by movement of the eyein a different direction, holding the eye in place for a period of timeover an object, movement of a different body part, or any other movementor movement type that affects the selection of an object or audio event,facial posture, or biometric or bio-kinetic event.

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of sensing movement of aneye, selecting an object, an object attribute or both by moving the eyein a pre-described change of direction such that the change of directionwould be known and be different than a random eye movement, or amovement associated with the scroll (scroll being defined by moving theeye all over the screen or volume of objects with the intent to choose).

Embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of sensing eye movementvia a motion sensor, selecting an object displayed in a display fieldwhen the eye pauses at an object for a dwell time sufficient for themotion sensor to detect the pause and simultaneously activating theselected object, repeating the sensing and selecting until the object iseither activatable or an attribute capable of direct control. In certainembodiments, the methods also comprise predicting the object to beselected from characteristics of the movement and/or characteristics ofthe manner in which the user moves. In other embodiments, eyetracking—using gaze instead of motion for selection/control via eyefocusing (dwell time or gaze time) on an object and a body motion(finger, hand, etc.) scrolls through an associated attribute listassociated with the object, or selects a submenu associated with theobject. Eye gaze selects a submenu object and body motion confirmsselection (selection does not occur without body motion), so body motionactually affects object selection.

In other embodiments, eye tracking—using motion forselection/control—eye movement is used to select a first word in asentence of a word document. Selection is confirmed by body motion of afinger (e.g., right finger) which holds the position. Eye movement isthen tracked to the last word in the sentence and another finger (e.g.,the left finger) confirms selection. Selected sentence is highlighteddue to second motion defining the boundary of selection. The same effectmay be had by moving the same finger towards the second eye position(the end of the sentence or word). Movement of one of the fingerstowards the side of the monitor (movement is in different direction thanthe confirmation move) sends a command to delete the sentence.Alternatively, movement of eye to a different location, followed by bothfingers moving generally towards that location results in the sentencebeing copied to the location at which the eyes stopped. This may also beused in combination with a gesture or with combinations of motions andgestures such as eye movement and other body movementsconcurrently—multiple inputs at once such as UAV controls describedbelow.

In other embodiments, looking at the center of picture or article andthen moving one finger away from center of picture or center of bodyenlarges the picture or article (zoom in). Moving finger towards centerof picture makes picture smaller (zoom out). What is important tounderstand here is that an eye gaze point, a direction of gaze, or amotion of the eye provides a reference point for body motion andlocation to be compared. For instance, moving a body part (say a finger)a certain distance away from the center of a picture in a touch ortouchless, 2D or 3D environment (area or volume as well), may provide adifferent view. For example, if the eye(s) were looking at a centralpoint in an area, one view would appear, while if the eye(s) werelooking at an edge point in an area, a different view would appear. Therelative distance of the motion would change, and the relative directionmay change as well, and even a dynamic change involving both eye(s) andfinger, could provide yet another change of motion. For example, bylooking at the end of a stick and using the finger to move the other endof it, the pivot point would be the end the eyes were looking at. Bylooking at the middle of the stick, then using the finger to rotate theend, the stick would pivot around the middle. Each of these movement maybe used to control different attributes of a picture, screen, display,window, or volume of a 3D projection, etc. What now takes two fingersmay be replaced by one due to the eye(s) acting as the missing finger.

These concepts are useable to manipulate the view of pictures, images,3D data or higher dimensional data, 3D renderings, 3D buildingrenderings, 3D plant and facility renderings, or any other type of 3D orhigher dimensional pictures, images, or renderings. These manipulationsof displays, pictures, screens, etc. may also be performed without thecoincidental use of the eye, but rather by using the motion of a fingeror object under the control or a user, such as by moving from one lowercorner of a bezel, screen, or frame (virtual or real) diagonally to theopposite upper corner to control one attribute, such as zooming in,while moving from one upper corner diagonally to the other lower cornerwould perform a different function, for example zooming out. This motionmay be performed as a gesture, where the attribute change might occur inat predefined levels, or may be controlled variably so the zoom in/outfunction may be a function of time, space, and/or distance. By movingfrom one side or edge to another, the same predefined level of change,or variable change may occur on the display, picture, frame, or thelike. For example, a TV screen displaying a picture and zoom-in may beperformed by moving from a bottom left corner of the frame or bezel, oran identifiable region (even off the screen) to an upper right portion.As the user moves, the picture is magnified (zoom-in). By starting in anupper right corner and moving toward a lower left, the system causes thepicture to be reduced in size (zoom-out) in a relational manner to thedistance or speed the user moves. If the user makes a quick diagonallydownward movement from one upper corner to the other lower corner, thepicture may be reduced by 50% (for example). This eliminates the needfor using two fingers that is currently popular as a pinch/zoomfunction.

By the user moving from a right side of the frame or bezel or predefinedlocation towards a left side, an aspect ratio of the picture may bechanged so as to make the picture tall and skinny By moving from a topedge toward a bottom edge, the picture may cause the picture to appearshort and wide. By moving two fingers from one upper corner diagonallytowards a lower corner, or from side to side, a “cropping” function maybe used to select certain aspects of the picture.

By taking one finger and placing it near the edge of a picture, frame,or bezel, but not so near as to be identified as desiring to use a sizeor crop control, and moving in a rotational or circular direction, thepicture could be rotated variably, or if done in a quick gesturalmotion, the picture might rotate a predefined amount, for instance 90degrees left or right, depending on the direction of the motion.

By moving within a central area of a picture, the picture may be moved“panned” variably by a desired amount or panned a preset amount, say 50%of the frame, by making a gestural motion in the direction of desiredpanning. Likewise, these same motions may be used in a 3D environmentfor simple manipulation of object attributes. These are not specificmotions using predefined pivot points as is currently used in CADprograms, but is rather a way of using the body (eyes or fingers forexample) in broad areas. These same motions may be applied to anydisplay, projected display or other similar device. In a mobile device,where many icons (objects) exist on one screen, where the icons includefolders of “nested” objects, by moving from one lower corner of thedevice or screen diagonally toward an upper corner, the display may zoomin, meaning the objects would appear magnified, but fewer would bedisplayed. By moving from an upper right corner diagonally downward, theicons would become smaller, and more could be seen on the same display.Moving in a circular motion near an edge of the display may causerotation of the icons, providing scrolling through lists and pages oficons. Moving from one edge to an opposite edge would change the aspectratio of the displayed objects, making the screen of icons appearshorter and wider, or taller and skinny, based on the direction moved.

In other embodiments, looking at a menu object then moving a finger awayfrom object or center of body opens up sub menus. If the objectrepresents a software program such as excel, moving away opens upspreadsheet fully or variably depending on how much movement is made(expanding spreadsheet window).

In other embodiments, instead of being a program accessed through anicon, the program may occupy part of a 3D space that the user interactswith or a field coupled to the program acting as a sensor for theprogram through which the user to interacts with the program. In otherembodiments, if object represents a software program such as Excel andseveral (say 4) spreadsheets are open at once, movement away from theobject shows 4 spread sheet icons. The effect is much like pullingcurtain away from a window to reveal the software programs that areopened. The software programs might be represented as “dynamic fields”,each program with its own color, say red for excel, blue for word, etc.The objects or aspects or attributes of each field may be manipulated byusing motion. For instance, if a center of the field is considered to bean origin of a volumetric space about the objects or value, moving at anexterior of the field cause a compound effect on the volume as a wholedue to having a greater x value, a greater y value, or a great zvalue—say the maximum value of the field is 5 (x, y, or z), moving at a5 point would be a multiplier effect of 5 compared to moving at a valueof 1 (x, y, or z). The inverse may also be used, where moving at agreater distance from the origin may provide less of an effect on partor the whole of the field and corresponding values. Changes in color,shape, size, density, audio characteristics, or any combination of theseand other forms of representation of values could occur, which may alsohelp the user or users to understand the effects of motion on thefields. These may be preview panes of the spreadsheets or any othericons representing these. Moving back through each icon or moving thefinger through each icon or preview pane, then moving away from the iconor center of the body selects the open programs and expands them equallyon the desktop, or layers them on top of each other, etc.

In other embodiments, four Word Documents (or any program or web pages)are open at once. Movement from bottom right of the screen to top leftreveals the document at bottom right of page, effect looks like pullingcurtain back. Moving from top right to bottom left reveals a differentdocument. Moving from across the top, and circling back across thebottom opens all, each in its quadrant, then moving through the desireddocuments and creating circle through the objects links them alltogether and merges the documents into one document. As another example,the user opens three spreadsheets and dynamically combines or separatesthe spreadsheets merely via motions or movements, variably per amountand direction of the motion or movement. Again, the software or virtualobjects are dynamic fields, where moving in one area of the field mayhave a different result than moving in another area, and the combiningor moving through the fields causes a combining of the softwareprograms, and may be done dynamically. Furthermore, using the eyes tohelp identify specific points in the fields (2D or 3D) would aid indefining the appropriate layer or area of the software program (field)to be manipulated or interacted with. Dynamic layers within these fieldsmay be represented and interacted with spatially in this manner. Some orall the objects may be affected proportionately or in some manner by themovement of one or more other objects in or near the field. Of course,the eyes may work in the same manner as a body part, or in combinationwith other objects or body parts.

In other embodiments, the eye selects (acts like a cursor hovering overan object and object may or may not respond, such as changing color toidentify it has been selected), then a motion or gesture of eye or adifferent body part confirms and disengages the eyes for furtherprocessing.

In other embodiments, the eye selects or tracks and a motion or movementor gesture of second body part causes a change in an attribute of thetracked object—such as popping or destroying the object, zooming,changing the color of the object, etc. finger is still in control of theobject.

In other embodiments, eye selects, and when body motion and eye motionare used, working simultaneously or sequentially, a different resultoccurs compared to when eye motion is independent of body motion, e.g.,eye(s) tracks a bubble, finger moves to zoom, movement of the fingerselects the bubble and now eye movement will rotate the bubble basedupon the point of gaze or change an attribute of the bubble, or the eyemay gaze and select and/or control a different object while the fingercontinues selection and/or control of the first objector a sequentialcombination could occur, such as first pointing with the finger, thengazing at a section of the bubble may produce a different result thanlooking first and then moving a finger; again a further difference mayoccur by using eyes, then a finger, then two fingers than would occur byusing the same body parts in a different order.

Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of: controlling helicopterwith one hand on a domed interface, where several fingers and hand allmove together and move separately. In this way, the whole movement ofthe hand controls the movement of the helicopter in yaw, pitch and roll,while the fingers may also move simultaneously to control cameras,artillery, or other controls or attributes, or both. This is movement ofmultiple inputs simultaneously congruently or independently.

Note—we have not discussed the perspective of the user as gravitationaleffects and object selections are made in 3D space. For instance, as wemove in 3D space towards subobjects, using our previously submittedgravitational and predictive effects, each selection may change theentire perspective of the user so the next choices are in the center ofview or in the best perspective. This may include rotational aspects ofperspective, the goal being to keep the required movement of the usersmall and as centered as possible in the interface real estate. This isreally showing the aspect of the user, and is relative. Since we aresaying the objects and fields may be moved, or saying the user may movearound the field, it is really a relative.

Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of sensing movement of abutton or knob with motion controls associated therewith, either on topof or in 3D, 3 space, on sides (whatever the shape), predicting whichgestures are called by direction and speed of motion (maybe amendment togravitational/predictive application). By definition, a gesture has apose-movement-pose then lookup table, then command if values equalvalues in lookup table. We can start with a pose, and predict thegesture by beginning to move in the direction of the final pose. As wecontinue to move, we would be scrolling through a list of predictedgestures until we can find the most probable desired gesture, causingthe command of the gesture to be triggered before the gesture iscompleted. Predicted gestures could be dynamically shown in a list ofchoices and represented by objects or text or colors or by some othermeans in a display. As we continue to move, predicted end results ofgestures would be dynamically displayed and located in such a place thatonce the correct one appears, movement towards that object, representingthe correct gesture, would select and activate the gestural command. Inthis way, a gesture could be predicted and executed before the totalityof the gesture is completed, increasing speed and providing morevariables for the user.

For example, in a keyboard application, current software use shapes ofgestures to predict words. Google uses zones of letters (a group ofletters), and combinations of zones (gestures) to predict words. Wewould use the same gesture-based system, except we be able to predictwhich zone the user is moving towards based upon direction of motion,meaning we would not have to actually move into the zone to finish thegesture, but moving towards the zone would bring up choice bubbles, andmoving towards the bubble would select that bubble.

In another example, instead of using a gesture such as “a pinch” gestureto select something in a touchless environment, movement towards makingthat gesture would actually trigger the same command. So instead ofhaving to actually touch the finger to the thumb, just moving the fingertowards the thumb would cause the same effect to occur. Most helpful incombination gestures where a finger pointing gesture is followed by apinching gesture to then move a virtual object. By predicting thegesture, after the point gesture, the beginning movement of the pinchgesture would be faster than having to finalize the pinching motion.

Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of: sensing movement via amotion sensor within a display field displaying a list of letters froman alphabet, predicting a letter or a group of letters based on themotion, if movement is aligned with a single letter, simultaneouslyselect the letter or simultaneously moving the group of letter forwarduntil a discrimination between letters in the group is predictivelycertain and simultaneously select the letter, sensing a change in adirection of motion, predicting a second letter or a second group ofletter based on the motion, if movement is aligned with a single letter,simultaneously select the letter or simultaneously moving the group ofletter forward until a discrimination between letters in the group ispredictively certain and simultaneously select the letter, either afterthe first letter selection or the second letter selection or both,display a list of potential words beginning with either the first letteror the second letter, selecting a word from the word list by movement ofa second body part simultaneously selected the word and resetting theoriginal letter display, and repeating the steps until a message iscompleted.

Thus, the current design selects a letter simply by changing a directionof movement at or near a letter. A faster process would be to usemovement toward a letter, then changing a direction of movement beforereaching the letter and moving towards a next letter and changingdirection of movement again before getting to the next letter wouldbetter predict words, and might change the first letter selection.Selection bubbles would appear and be changing while moving, so speedand direction would be used to predict the word, not necessarily havingto move over the exact letter or very close to it, though moving overthe exact letter would be a positive selection of that letter and thiseffect could be better verified by a slight pausing or slowing down ofmovement. (Of course, this could be combined with current button likeactions or lift-off events (touch-up events), and more than one fingeror hand may be used, both simultaneously or sequentially to provide thespelling and typing actions.) This is most effective in a touchlessenvironment where relative motion can be leveraged to predict words on akeyboard rather than the actual distance required to move from key tokey. The distance from a projected keyboard and movement of finger usesangles of motion to predict letters. Predictive word bubbles can beselected with a Z movement. B) Move below the letters of a keyboard toselect, or shape the letter buttons in such a way that they extenddownward (like a tear drop) so actual letters can be seen whileselecting instead of covering the letters (the touch or active zones areoffset from the actual keys. This can also be used with predictivemotions to create a very fast keyboard where relative motions are usedto predict keys and words while more easily being able to see the keyletters. Bubbles could also appear above or besides the keys, or aroundthem, including in a arcuate or radial fashion to further selectpredicted results by moving towards the suggested words.

Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems forimplementing the methods comprising the steps of: maintaining allsoftware applications in an instant on configuration—on, but inactive,resident, but not active, so that once selected the application which ismerely dormant, is fully activate instantaneously (or may be describedas a different focus of the object), sensing movement via a motionsensor with a display field including application objects distributed onthe display in a spaced apart configuration, preferably, in a maximallyspaced apart configuration so that the movement results in a fastpredict selection of an application object, pulling an applicationobject or a group of application objects toward a center of the displayfield, if movement is aligned with a single application, simultaneouslyselect and instant on the application, or continue monitoring themovement until a discrimination between application objects ispredictively certain and simultaneously selecting and activating theapplication object.

Thus, the industry must begin to start looking at everything as alwayson and what is on is always interactive, and may have different levelsof interactivity. For instance, software should be an interactive field.Excel and word should be interactive fields where motion through themcan combine or select areas, which correspond to cells and texts beingintertwined with the motion. Excel sheets should be part of the same 3Dfield, not separate pages, and should have depth so their aspects can becombined in volume. The software desktop experience needs a depth wherethe desktop is the cover of a volume, and rolling back the desktop fromdifferent corners reveals different programs that are active and havedifferent colors, such as word being revealed when moving from bottomright to top left and being a blue field, excel being revealed whenmoving from top left to bottom right and being red; moving right to leftlifts desktop cover and reveals all applications in volume, eachapplication with its own field and color in 3D space.

Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems ofthis invention, where the active screen area includes a delete orbackspace region. When the user moves the active object (cursor) towardthe delete or backspace region, then the selected objects will bereleased one at a time or in groups or completely depending onattributes of movement toward the delete of backspace region. Thus, ifthe movement is slow and steady, then the selected objects are releasedone at a time. If the movement is fast, then multiple selected objectsare released. Thus, the delete or backspace region is variable. Forexample, if the active display region represents a cell phone dialingpad (with the number distributed in any desired configuration from atraditional grid configuration to a arcuate configuration about theactive object, or in any other desirable configuration), when by movingthe active object toward the delete or backspace region, numbers will beremoved from the number, which may be displayed in a number displayregion of the display. Alternatively, touching the backspace regionwould back up one letter; moving from right to left in the backspaceregion would delete (backspace) a corresponding amount of letters basedon the distance (and/or speed) of the movement, The deletion could occurwhen the motion is stopped, paused, or a lift off event is detected.Alternatively, a swiping motion (jerk, or fast acceleration) couldresult in the deletion (backspace) the entire word. All these may or maynot require a lift off event, but the motion dictates the amount deletedor released objects such as letters, numbers, or other types of objects.The same is true with the delete key, except the direction would beforward instead of backwards. Lastly, the same could be true in a radialmenu (or linear or spatial), where the initial direction of motiontowards an object or on an object, or in a zone associated with anobject, that has a variable attribute. The motion associated with ortowards that object would provide immediate control.

Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods and systems ofthis invention, where eye movement is used to select and body partmovement is used to confirm or activate the selection. Thus, eyemovement is used as the selective movement, while the object remains inthe selected state, then the body part movement confirms the selectionand activates the selected object. Thus, specifically stated the eye oreyes look in a different direction or area, and the last selected objectwould remain selected until a different object is selected by motion ofthe eyes or body, or until a time-out deselects the object. An objectmay be also selected by an eye gaze, and this selection would continueeven when the eye or eyes are no longer looking at the object. Theobject would remain selected unless a different selectable object islooked at, or unless a timeout deselects the object occurs.

In all of the embodiments set forth above, the motion or movement mayalso comprise lift off event, where a finger or other body part or partsare in direct contract with a touch sensitive feedback device such as atouch screen, then the acceptable forms of motion or movement willcomprise touching the screen, moving on or across the screen, liftingoff from the screen (lift off events), holding still on the screen at aparticular location, holding still after first contact, holding stillafter scroll commencement, holding still after attribute adjustment tocontinue an particular adjustment, holding still for different periodsof time, moving fast or slow, moving fast or slow or different periodsof time, accelerating or decelerating, accelerating or decelerating fordifferent periods of time, changing direction, changing speed, changingvelocity, changing acceleration, changing direction for differentperiods of time, changing speed for different periods of time, changingvelocity for different periods of time, changing acceleration fordifferent periods of time, or any combinations of these motions may beused by the systems and methods to invoke command and control over realworld or virtual world controllable objects using on the motion only. Ofcourse, if certain objects that are invoked by the motion sensitiveprocessing of the systems and methods of this invention require hardselect protocols—mouse clicks, finger touches, etc., the invokedobject's internal function will not be augmented by the systems ormethods of this invention unless the invoked object permits or supportssystem integration.

The systems and methods are disclosed herein where command functions forselection and/or control of real and/or virtual objects may be generatedbased on a change in velocity at constant direction, a change indirection at constant velocity, a change in both direction and velocity,a change in a rate of velocity, or a change in a rate of acceleration.Once detected by an detector or sensor, these changes may be used by aprocessing unit to issue commands for controlling real and/or virtualobjects. A selection or combination scroll, selection, and attributeselection may occur upon the first movement. Such motion may beassociated with doors opening and closing in any direction, golf swings,virtual or real world games, light moving ahead of a runner, but stayingwith a walker, or any other motion having compound properties such asdirection, velocity, acceleration, and changes in any one or all ofthese primary properties; thus, direction, velocity, and accelerationmay be considered primary motion properties, while changes in theseprimary properties may be considered secondary motion properties. Thesystem may then be capable of differentially handling of primary andsecondary motion properties. Thus, the primary properties may causeprimary functions to be issued, while secondary properties may causeprimary function to be issued, but may also cause the modification ofprimary function and/or secondary functions to be issued. For example,if a primary function comprises a predetermined selection format, thesecondary motion properties may expand or contract the selection format.

In another example of this primary/secondary format for causing thesystem to generate command functions may involve an object display.Thus, by moving the object in a direction away from the user's eyes, thestate of the display may change, such as from a graphic to a combinationgraphic and text, to a text display only, while moving side to side ormoving a finger or eyes from side to side could scroll the displayedobjects or change the font or graphic size, while moving the head to adifferent position in space might reveal or control attributes orsubmenus of the object. Thus, these changes in motions may be discrete,compounded, or include changes in velocity, acceleration and rates ofthese changes to provide different results for the user. These examplesillustrate two concepts: 1) the ability to have compound motions whichprovide different results that the motions separately or sequentially,and (2) the ability to change states or attributes, such as graphics totext solely or in combination with single or compound motions, or withmultiple inputs, such as verbal, touch, facial expressions, orbio-kinetically, all working together to give different results, or toprovide the same results in different ways.

It must be recognized that the present invention while based on the useof sensed velocity, acceleration, and changes and rates of changes inthese properties to effect control of real world objects and/or virtualobjects, the present invention may also use other properties of thesensed motion in combination with sensed velocity, acceleration, andchanges in these properties to effect control of real world and/orvirtual objects, where the other properties include direction and changein direction of motion, where the motion has a constant velocity. Forexample, if the motion sensor(s) senses velocity, acceleration, changesin velocity, changes in acceleration, and/or combinations thereof thatis used for primary control of the objects via motion of a primarysensed human, animal, part thereof, real world object under the controlof a human or animal, or robots under control of the human or animal,then sensing motion of a second body part may be used to confirm primaryselection protocols or may be used to fine tune the selected command andcontrol function. Thus, if the selection is for a group of objects, thenthe secondary motion properties may be used to differentially controlobject attributes to achieve a desired final state of the objects.

For example, suppose the apparatuses of this invention control lightingin a building. There are banks of lights on or in all four walls(recessed or mounted) and on or in the ceiling (recessed or mounted).The user has already selected and activated lights from a selection menuusing motion to activate the apparatus and motion to select and activatethe lights from a list of selectable menu items such as sound system,lights, cameras, video system, etc. Now that lights has been selectedfrom the menu, movement to the right would select and activate thelights on the right wall. Movement straight down would turn all of thelights of the right wall down—dim the lights. Movement straight up wouldturn all of the lights on the right wall up—brighten. The velocity ofthe movement down or up would control the rate that the lights weredimmed or brighten. Stopping movement would stop the adjustment orremoving the body, body part or object under the user control within themotion sensing area would stop the adjustment.

For even more sophisticated control using motion properties, the usermay move within the motion sensor active area to map out a downwardconcave arc, which would cause the lights on the right wall to dimproportionally to the arc distance from the lights. Thus, the rightlights would be more dimmed in the center of the wall and less dimmedtoward the ends of the wall.

Alternatively, if the movement was convex downward, then the light woulddim with the center being dimmed the least and the ends the most.Concave up and convex up would cause differential brightening of thelights in accord with the nature of the curve.

Now, the apparatus may also use the velocity of the movement of themapping out the concave or convex movement to further change the dimmingor brightening of the lights. Using velocity, starting off slowly andincreasing speed in a downward motion would cause the lights on the wallto be dimmed more as the motion moved down. Thus, the lights at one endof the wall would be dimmed less than the lights at the other end of thewall.

Now, suppose that the motion is a S-shape, then the light would bedimmed or brightened in a S-shaped configuration. Again, velocity may beused to change the amount of dimming or brightening in different lightssimply by changing the velocity of movement. Thus, by slowing themovement, those lights would be dimmed or brightened less than when themovement is speed up. By changing the rate ofvelocity—acceleration—further refinements of the lighting configurationmay be obtained.

Now suppose that all the lights in the room have been selected, thencircular or spiral motion would permit the user to adjust all of thelights, with direction, velocity and acceleration properties being usedto dim and/or brighten all the lights in accord with the movementrelative to the lights in the room. For the ceiling lights, the circularmotion may move up or down in the z direction to affect the luminosityof the ceiling lights. Thus, through the sensing of motion or movementwithin an active sensor zone—area and especially volume, a user can usesimple or complex motion to differentially control large numbers ofdevices simultaneously.

This differential control through the use of sensed complex motionpermits a user to nearly instantaneously change lighting configurations,sound configurations, TV configurations, or any configuration of systemshaving a plurality of devices being simultaneously controlled or of asingle system having a plurality of objects or attributes capable ofsimultaneous control. For examples, in a computer game including largenumbers of virtual objects such as troops, tanks, airplanes, etc.,sensed complex motion would permit the user to quickly deploy, redeploy,rearrangement, manipulated and generally quickly reconfigure allcontrollable objects and/or attributes by simply conforming the movementof the objects to the movement of the user sensed by the motiondetector. This same differential device and/or object control would findutility in military and law enforcement, where command personnel bymotion or movement within a sensing zone of a motion sensor quicklydeploy, redeploy, rearrangement, manipulated and generally quicklyreconfigure all assets to address a rapidly changing situation.

Embodiments of systems of this invention include a motion sensor orsensor array, where each sensor includes an active zone and where eachsensor senses movement, movement direction, movement velocity, and/ormovement acceleration, and/or changes in movement direction, changes inmovement velocity, and/or changes in movement acceleration, and/orchanges in a rate of a change in direction, changes in a rate of achange in velocity and/or changes in a rate of a change in accelerationwithin the active zone by one or a plurality of body parts or objectsand produces an output signal. The systems also include at least oneprocessing unit including communication software and hardware, where theprocessing units convert the output signal or signals from the motionsensor or sensors into command and control functions, and one or aplurality of real objects and/or virtual objects in communication withthe processing units. The command and control functions comprise atleast (1) a scroll function or a plurality of scroll functions, (2) aselect function or a plurality of select functions, (3) an attributefunction or plurality of attribute functions, (4) an attribute controlfunction or a plurality of attribute control functions, or (5) asimultaneous control function. The simultaneous control functionincludes (a) a select function or a plurality of select functions and ascroll function or a plurality of scroll functions, (b) a selectfunction or a plurality of select functions and an activate function ora plurality of activate functions, and (c) a select function or aplurality of select functions and an attribute control function or aplurality of attribute control functions. The processing unit or units(1) processes a scroll function or a plurality of scroll functions, (2)selects and processes a scroll function or a plurality of scrollfunctions, (3) selects and activates an object or a plurality of objectsin communication with the processing unit, or (4) selects and activatesan attribute or a plurality of attributes associated with an object or aplurality of objects in communication with the processing unit or units,or any combination thereof. The objects comprise electrical devices,electrical systems, sensors, hardware devices, hardware systems,environmental devices and systems, energy and energy distributiondevices and systems, software systems, software programs, softwareobjects, or combinations thereof. The attributes comprise adjustableattributes associated with the devices, systems, programs and/orobjects. In certain embodiments, the sensor(s) is(are) capable ofdiscerning a change in movement, velocity and/or acceleration of ±5%. Inother embodiments, the sensor(s) is(are) capable of discerning a changein movement, velocity and/or acceleration of ±10°. In other embodiments,the system further comprising a remote control unit or remote controlsystem in communication with the processing unit to provide remotecontrol of the processing unit and all real and/or virtual objects underthe control of the processing unit. In other embodiments, the motionsensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, opticalscanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads,capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermaldevices, touch or touchless sensors, acoustic devices, and any otherdevice capable of sensing motion, arrays of such devices, and mixturesand combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the objects includeenvironmental controls, lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers,stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems,medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold watersupply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilationsystems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemicalor manufacturing plant control systems, computer operating systems andother software systems, remote control systems, mobile devices,electrical systems, sensors, hardware devices, hardware systems,environmental devices and systems, energy and energy distributiondevices and systems, software programs or objects or mixtures andcombinations thereof.

Embodiments of methods of this invention for controlling objects includethe step of sensing movement, movement direction, movement velocity,and/or movement acceleration, and/or changes in movement direction,changes in movement velocity, and/or changes in movement acceleration,and/or changes in a rate of a change in direction, changes in a rate ofa change in velocity and/or changes in a rate of a change inacceleration within the active zone by one or a plurality of body partsor objects within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor or withinactive sensing zones of an array of motion sensors. The methods alsoinclude the step of producing an output signal or a plurality of outputsignals from the sensor or sensors and converting the output signal orsignals into a command function or a plurality of command functions. Thecommand and control functions comprise at least (1) a scroll function ora plurality of scroll functions, (2) a select function or a plurality ofselect functions, (3) an attribute function or plurality of attributefunctions, (4) an attribute control function or a plurality of attributecontrol functions, or (5) a simultaneous control function. Thesimultaneous control function includes (a) a select function or aplurality of select functions and a scroll function or a plurality ofscroll functions, (b) a select function or a plurality of selectfunctions and an activate function or a plurality of activate functions,and (c) a select function or a plurality of select functions and anattribute control function or a plurality of attribute controlfunctions. In certain embodiments, the objects comprise electricaldevices, electrical systems, sensors, hardware devices, hardwaresystems, environmental devices and systems, energy and energydistribution devices and systems, software systems, software programs,software objects, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, theattributes comprise adjustable attributes associated with the devices,systems, programs and/or objects. In other embodiments, the timed holdis brief or the brief cessation of movement causing the attribute to beadjusted to a preset level, causing a selection to be made, causing ascroll function to be implemented, or a combination thereof. In otherembodiments, the timed hold is continued causing the attribute toundergo a high value/low value cycle that ends when the hold is removed.In other embodiments, the timed hold causes an attribute value to changeso that (1) if the attribute is at its maximum value, the timed holdcauses the attribute value to decrease at a predetermined rate, untilthe timed hold is removed, (2) if the attribute value is at its minimumvalue, then the timed hold causes the attribute value to increase at apredetermined rate, until the timed hold is removed, (3) if theattribute value is not the maximum or minimum value, then the timed holdcauses randomly selects the rate and direction of attribute value changeor changes the attribute to allow maximum control, or (4) the timed holdcauses a continuous change in the attribute value or scroll function ina direction of the initial motion until the timed hold is removed. Inother embodiments, the motion sensor is selected from the groupconsisting of sensors of any kind including digital cameras, opticalscanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads,capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermaldevices, touch or touchless sensors, acoustic devices, and any otherdevice capable of sensing motion or changes in any waveform due tomotion or arrays of such devices, and mixtures and combinations thereof.In other embodiments, the objects include lighting devices, cameras,ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarmsystems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic controlsystems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems,heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computersand computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operatingsystems and other software systems, remote control systems, sensors, ormixtures and combinations thereof.

The all of these scenarios set forth above are designed to illustratethe control of a large number of devices using properties and/orcharacteristics of the sensed motion including, without limitation,relative distance of the motion for each object (real like a person in aroom using his/her hand as the object for which motion is being sensedor virtual representations of the objects in a virtual or rendered roomon a display apparatus), direction of motion, speed of motion,acceleration of motion, changes an any of these properties, rates ofchanges in any of these properties, or mixtures and combinations thereofto control a single controllable attribute of the object such as lights.However, the systems, apparatuses, and methods of this invention arealso capable of using motion properties and/or characteristics tocontrol two, three, or more attributes of an object. Additionally, thesystems, apparatuses, and methods of this invention are also capable ofusing motion properties and/or characteristics from a plurality ofmoving objects within a motion sensing zone to control differentattributes of a collection of objects. For example, if the lights in theabove figures are capable of color as well as brighten, then the motionproperties and/or characteristic may be used to simultaneously changecolor and intensity of the lights or one sensed motion could controlintensity, while another sensed motion could control color. For example,if an artist wanted to paint a picture on a computer generated canvas,then motion properties and/or characteristic would allow the artist tocontrol the pixel properties of each pixel on the display using theproperties of the sensed motion from one, two, three, etc. sensedmotions. Thus, the systems, apparatuses, and methods of this inventionare capable of converting the motion properties associated with each andevery object being controlled based on the instantaneous propertiesvalues as the motion traverse the object in real space or virtual space.

The systems, apparatuses and methods of this invention activate uponmotion being sensed by one or more motion sensors. This sensed motionthen activates the systems and apparatuses causing the systems andapparatuses to process the motion and its properties activating aselection object and a plurality of selectable objects. Once activated,the motion properties cause movement of the selection objectaccordingly, which will cause a pre-selected object or a group ofpre-selected objects, to move toward the selection object, where thepre-selected object or the group of pre-selected objects are theselectable object(s) that are most closely aligned with the direction ofmotion, which may be evidenced by the user feedback units bycorresponding motion of the selection object. Another aspect of thesystems or apparatuses of this invention is that the faster theselection object moves toward the pre-selected object or the group ofpreselected objects, the faster the pre-selected object or the group ofpreselected objects move toward the selection object. Another aspect ofthe systems or apparatuses of this invention is that as the pre-selectedobject or the group of pre-selected objects move toward the selectionobject, the pre-selected object or the group of pre-selected objects mayincrease in size, change color, become highlighted, provide other formsof feedback, or a combination thereof. Another aspect of the systems orapparatuses of this invention is that movement away from the objects orgroups of objects may result in the objects moving away at a greater oraccelerated speed from the selection object(s). Another aspect of thesystems or apparatuses of this invention is that as motion continues,the motion will start to discriminate between members of the group ofpre-selected object(s) until the motion results in the selection of asingle selectable object or a coupled group of selectable objects. Oncethe selection object and the target selectable object touch, activeareas surrounding the objection touch, a threshold distance between theobject is achieved, or a probability of selection exceeds an activationthreshold, the target object is selected and non-selected displayobjects are removed from the display, change color or shape, or fadeaway or any such attribute so as to recognize them as not selected. Thesystems or apparatuses of this invention may center the selected objectin a center of the user feedback unit or center the selected object ator near a location where the motion was first sensed. The selectedobject may be in a corner of a display—on the side the thumb is on whenusing a phone, and the next level menu is displayed slightly furtheraway, from the selected object, possibly arcuately, so the next motionis close to the first, usually working the user back and forth in thegeneral area of the center of the display. If the object is anexecutable object such as taking a photo, turning on a device, etc, thenthe execution is simultaneous with selection. If the object is asubmenu, sublist or list of attributes associated with the selectedobject, then the submenu members, sublist members or attributes aredisplayed on the screen in a spaced apart format. The same procedureused to select the selected object is then used to select a member ofthe submenu, sublist or attribute list. Thus, the interfaces have agravity like or anti-gravity like action on display objects. As theselection object(s) moves, it attracts an object or objects in alignmentwith the direction of the selection object's motion pulling thoseobject(s) toward it and may simultaneously or sequentially repelnon-selected items away or indicate non-selection in any other manner soas to discriminate between selected and non-selected objects As motioncontinues, the pull increases on the object most aligned with thedirection of motion, further accelerating the object toward theselection object until they touch or merge or reach a threshold distancedetermined as an activation threshold. The touch or merge or thresholdvalue being reached causes the processing unit to select and activatethe object(s). Additionally, the sensed motion may be one or moremotions detected by one or more movements within the active zones of themotion sensor(s) giving rise to multiple sensed motions and multiplecommand function that maybe invoked simultaneously or sequentially. Thesensors may be arrayed to form sensor arrays. If the object is anexecutable object such as taking a photo, turning on a device, etc, thenthe execution is simultaneous with selection. If the object is asubmenu, sublist or list of attributes associated with the selectedobject, then the submenu members, sublist members or attributes aredisplayed on the screen is a spaced apart format. The same procedureused to select the selected object is then used to select a member ofthe submenu, sublist or attribute list. Thus, the interfaces have agravity like action on display objects. As the selection object moves,it attracts an object or objects in alignment with the direction of theselection object's motion pulling those object toward it. As motioncontinues, the pull increases on the object most aligned with thedirection of motion, further accelerating the object toward theselection object until they touch or merge or reach a threshold distancedetermined as an activation threshold to make a selection. The touch,merge or threshold event causes the processing unit to select andactivate the object.

The sensed motion may result not only in activation of the systems orapparatuses of this invention, but may be result in select, attributecontrol, activation, actuation, scroll or combination thereof.

Different haptic (tactile) or audio or other feedback may be used toindicate different choices to the user, and these may be variable inintensity as motions are made. For example, if the user moving throughradial zones different objects may produce different buzzes or sounds,and the intensity or pitch may change while moving in that zone toindicate whether the object is in front of or behind the user.

Compound motions may also be used so as to provide different controlfunction than the motions made separately or sequentially. This includescombination attributes and changes of both state and attribute, such astilting the device to see graphics, graphics and text or text, alongwith changing scale based on the state of the objects, while providingother controls simultaneously or independently, such as scrolling,zooming in/out, or selecting while changing state. These features mayalso be used to control chemicals being added to a vessel, whilesimultaneously controlling the amount. These features may also be usedto change between Windows 8 and Windows 7 with a tilt while moving iconsor scrolling through programs at the same time.

Audible or other communication medium may be used to confirm objectselection or in conjunction with motion so as to provide desiredcommands (multimodal) or to provide the same control commands indifferent ways.

The present systems, apparatuses, and methods may also includeartificial intelligence components that learn from user motioncharacteristics, environment characteristics (e.g., motion sensor types,processing unit types, or other environment properties), controllableobject environment, etc. to improve or anticipate object selectionresponses.

Embodiments of this invention further relate to systems for selectingand activating virtual or real objects and their controllable attributesincluding at least one motion sensor having an active sensing zone, atleast one processing unit, at least one power supply unit, and oneobject or a plurality of objects under the control of the processingunits. The sensors, processing units, and power supply units are inelectrical communication with each other. The motion sensors sensemotion including motion properties within the active zones, generate atleast one output signal, and send the output signals to the processingunits. The processing units convert the output signals into at least onecommand function. The command functions include (1) a start function,(2) a scroll function, (3) a select function, (4) an attribute function,(5) an attribute control function, (6) a simultaneous control functionincluding: (a) a select and scroll function, (b) a select, scroll andactivate function, (c) a select, scroll, activate, and attribute controlfunction, (d) a select and activate function, (e) a select and attributecontrol function, (f) a select, active, and attribute control function,or (g) combinations thereof, or (7) combinations thereof. The startfunctions activate at least one selection or cursor object and aplurality of selectable objects upon first sensing motion by the motionsensors and selectable objects aligned with the motion direction movetoward the selection object or become differentiated from non-alignedselectable objects and motion continues until a target selectable objector a plurality of target selectable objects are discriminated fromnon-target selectable objects resulting in activation of the targetobject or objects. The motion properties include a touch, a lift off, adirection, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a changein velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, arate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops,holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof. The objectscomprise real world objects, virtual objects and mixtures orcombinations thereof, where the real world objects include physical,mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical,or electronic devices or any other real world device that can becontrolled by a processing unit and the virtual objects include anyconstruct generated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed bya display device and that are capable of being controlled by aprocessing unit. The attributes comprise activatable, executable and/oradjustable attributes associated with the objects. The changes in motionproperties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or theprocessing units.

In certain embodiments, the start functions further activate the userfeedback units and the selection objects and the selectable objects arediscernible via the motion sensors in response to movement of an animal,human, robot, robotic system, part or parts thereof, or combinationsthereof within the motion sensor active zones. In other embodiments, thesystem further includes at least on user feedback unit, at least onebattery backup unit, communication hardware and software, at least oneremote control unit, or mixtures and combinations thereof, where thesensors, processing units, power supply units, the user feedback units,the battery backup units, the remote control units are in electricalcommunication with each other. In other embodiments, faster motioncauses a faster movement of the target object or objects toward theselection object or causes a greater differentiation of the targetobject or object from the non-target object or objects. In otherembodiments, if the activated objects or objects have subobjects and/orattributes associated therewith, then as the objects move toward theselection object, the subobjects and/or attributes appear and becomemore discernible as object selection becomes more certain. In otherembodiments, once the target object or objects have been selected, thenfurther motion within the active zones of the motion sensors causesselectable subobjects or selectable attributes aligned with the motiondirection to move towards the selection object(s) or becomedifferentiated from non-aligned selectable subobjects or selectableattributes and motion continues until a target selectable subobject orattribute or a plurality of target selectable objects and/or attributesare discriminated from non-target selectable subobjects and/orattributes resulting in activation of the target subobject, attribute,subobjects, or attributes. In other embodiments, the motion sensor isselected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners,optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitivepads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices,acoustic devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays ofmotion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof. In otherembodiments, the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens,dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems,control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hotand cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heatingsystems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers andcomputer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operatingsystems, systems, graphics systems, business software systems, wordprocessor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, militarysystems, control systems, other software systems, programs, routines,objects and/or elements, remote control systems, or mixtures andcombinations thereof. In other embodiments, if the timed hold is brief,then the processing unit causes an attribute to be adjusted to a presetlevel. In other embodiments, if the timed hold is continued, then theprocessing unit causes an attribute to undergo a high value/low valuecycle that ends when the hold is removed. In other embodiments, thetimed hold causes an attribute value to change so that (1) if theattribute is at its maximum value, the timed hold causes the attributevalue to decrease at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold isremoved, (2) if the attribute value is at its minimum value, then thetimed hold causes the attribute value to increase at a predeterminedrate, until the timed hold is removed, (3) if the attribute value is notthe maximum or minium value, then the timed hold causes randomly selectsthe rate and direction of attribute value change or changes theattribute to allow maximum control, or (4) the timed hold causes acontinuous change in the attribute value in a direction of the initialmotion until the timed hold is removed. In other embodiments, the motionsensors sense a second motion including second motion properties withinthe active zones, generate at least one output signal, and send theoutput signals to the processing units, and the processing units convertthe output signals into a confirmation command confirming the selectionor at least one second command function for controlling differentobjects or different object attributes. In other embodiments, the motionsensors sense motions including motion properties of two or moreanimals, humans, robots, or parts thereof, or objects under the controlof humans, animals, and/or robots within the active zones, generateoutput signals corresponding to the motions, and send the output signalsto the processing units, and the processing units convert the outputsignals into command function or confirmation commands or combinationsthereof implemented simultaneously or sequentially, where the startfunctions activate a plurality of selection or cursor objects and aplurality of selectable objects upon first sensing motion by the motionsensor and selectable objects aligned with the motion directions movetoward the selection objects or become differentiated from non-alignedselectable objects and the motions continue until target selectableobjects or pluralities of target selectable objects are discriminatedfrom non-target selectable objects resulting in activation of the targetobjects and the confirmation commands confirm the selections.

Embodiments of this invention further relates to methods for controllingobjects include sensing motion including motion properties within anactive sensing zone of at least one motion sensor, where the motionproperties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change indirection, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate ofchange of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change ofacceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinationsthereof and producing an output signal or a plurality of output signalscorresponding to the sensed motion. The methods also include convertingthe output signal or signals via a processing unit in communication withthe motion sensors into a command function or a plurality of commandfunctions. The command functions include (1) a start function, (2) ascroll function, (3) a select function, (4) an attribute function, (5)an attribute control function, (6) a simultaneous control functionincluding: (a) a select and scroll function, (b) a select, scroll andactivate function, (c) a select, scroll, activate, and attribute controlfunction, (d) a select and activate function, (e) a select and attributecontrol function, (f) a select, active, and attribute control function,or (g) combinations thereof, or (7) combinations thereof. The methodsalso include processing the command function or the command functionssimultaneously or sequentially, where the start functions activate atleast one selection or cursor object and a plurality of selectableobjects upon first sensing motion by the motion sensor and selectableobjects aligned with the motion direction move toward the selectionobject or become differentiated from non-aligned selectable objects andmotion continues until a target selectable object or a plurality oftarget selectable objects are discriminated from non-target selectableobjects resulting in activation of the target object or objects, wherethe motion properties include a touch, a lift off, a direction, avelocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity,a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate ofchange of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds,timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof. The objects comprisereal world objects, virtual objects or mixtures and combinationsthereof, where the real world objects include physical, mechanical,electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical, orelectronic devices or any other real world device that can be controlledby a processing unit and the virtual objects include any constructgenerated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed by a displaydevice and that are capable of being controlled by a processing unit.The attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustableattributes associated with the objects. The changes in motion propertiesare changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processingunits.

In certain embodiments, the motion sensor is selected from the groupconsisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller balldevices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographicdevices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, anyother device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, andmixtures or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the objectsinclude lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, soundsystems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medicaldevices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supplydevices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems,air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plantcontrol systems, computer operating systems, systems, graphics systems,business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers,accounting systems, military systems, control systems, other softwaresystems, programs, routines, objects and/or elements, remote controlsystems, or mixtures and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, ifthe timed hold is brief, then the processing unit causes an attribute tobe adjusted to a preset level. In other embodiments, if the timed holdis continued, then the processing unit causes an attribute to undergo ahigh value/low value cycle that ends when the hold is removed. In otherembodiments, the timed hold causes an attribute value to change so that(1) if the attribute is at its maximum value, the timed hold causes theattribute value to decrease at a predetermined rate, until the timedhold is removed, (2) if the attribute value is at its minimum value,then the timed hold causes the attribute value to increase at apredetermined rate, until the timed hold is removed, (3) if theattribute value is not the maximum or minium value, then the timed holdcauses randomly selects the rate and direction of attribute value changeor changes the attribute to allow maximum control, or (4) the timed holdcauses a continuous change in the attribute value in a direction of theinitial motion until the timed hold is removed. In other embodiments,the methods include sensing second motion including second motionproperties within the active sensing zone of the motion sensors,producing a second output signal or a plurality of second output signalscorresponding to the second sensed motion, converting the second outputsignal or signals via the processing units in communication with themotion sensors into a second command function or a plurality of secondcommand functions, and confirming the selection based on the secondoutput signals, or processing the second command function or the secondcommand functions and moving selectable objects aligned with the secondmotion direction toward the selection object or become differentiatedfrom non-aligned selectable objects and motion continues until a secondtarget selectable object or a plurality of second target selectableobjects are discriminated from non-target second selectable objectsresulting in activation of the second target object or objects, wherethe motion properties include a touch, a lift off, a direction, avelocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity,a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate ofchange of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds,timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof. In other embodiments,the methods include sensing motions including motion properties of twoor more animals, humans, robots, or parts thereof within the activezones of the motion sensors, producing output signals corresponding tothe motions, converting the output signals into command function orconfirmation commands or combinations thereof, where the start functionsactivate a plurality of selection or cursor objects and a plurality ofselectable objects upon first sensing motion by the motion sensor andselectable objects aligned with the motion directions move toward theselection objects or become differentiated from non-aligned selectableobjects and the motions continue until target selectable objects orpluralities of target selectable objects are discriminated fromnon-target selectable objects resulting in activation of the targetobjects and the confirmation commands confirm the selections.

Suitable Components for Use in the Invention

The motion sensors may also be used in conjunction with displays,keyboards, touch pads, touchless pads, sensors of any type, or otherdevices associated with a computer, a notebook computer or a drawingtablet or any mobile or stationary device. The motion sensors may beoptical sensors, acoustic sensors, thermal sensors, optoacousticsensors, any other sensor or combination of sensors that senses movementor changes in movement, or mixtures or combinations thereof. The sensorsmay be digital, analog or a combination of digital and analog. Forcamera systems, the systems may sense motion within a zone, area orvolume in front of the lens. Optical sensors may operate in any regionof the electromagnetic spectrum including, without limitation, RF,microwave, near IR, IR, far IR, visible, UV or mixtures or combinationsthereof. Acoustic sensor may operate over the entire sonic range whichincludes the human audio range, animal audio ranges, or combinationsthereof. EMF sensors may be used and operate in any region of adiscernable wavelength or magnitude where motion can be discerned.Moreover, LCD screen(s) may be incorporated to identify which devicesare chosen or the temperature setting, etc. Moreover, the interface mayproject a virtual control surface and sense motion within the projectedimage and invoke actions based on the sensed motion. The motion sensorassociated with the interfaces of this invention can also be acousticmotion sensor using any acceptable region of the sound spectrum. Avolume of a liquid or gas, where a user's body part or object under thecontrol of a user may be immersed, may be used, where sensors associatedwith the liquid or gas can discern motion. Any sensor being able todiscern differences in transverse, longitudinal, pulse, compression orany other waveform could be used to discern motion and any sensormeasuring gravitational, magnetic, electro-magnetic, or electricalchanges relating to motion or contact while moving (resistive andcapacitive screens) could be used. Of course, the interfaces can includemixtures or combinations of any known or yet to be invented motionsensors.

Suitable electrical devices, hardware devices and/or appliances capableof being controlled by the control systems and/or switches of thisinvention, include, without limitation, any electrical and/or hardwaredevice or appliance having attributes which can be controlled by aswitch, a joy stick or similar type controller, or software program(s)and/or object(s) and/or objects and attributes, and/or attributes.Exemplary examples of such attributes include, without limitation, ON,OFF, intensity and/or amplitude, impedance, capacitance, inductance,software attributes, lists or submenus of software programs or objects,virtual and/or real objects in a display, mobile device or gamingsystem, or any other controllable electrical and/or electro-mechanicalfunction and/or attribute of the device. Exemplary examples ofelectrical devices and/or appliances include, without limitation,environmental controls, building systems and controls, lighting devicessuch as indoor and/or outdoor lights or light fixtures, cameras, ovens(conventional, convection, microwave, and/or etc.), dishwashers, stoves,sound systems, mobile devices, display systems (TVs, VCRs, DVDs, cableboxes, satellite boxes, and/or etc.), alarm systems, control systems,energy management systems, medical devices, robots, robotic controlsystems, UAV, equipment and machinery control systems, hot and coldwater supply devices, air conditioning system, heating systems,ventilation systems, air handling systems, security systems, computersand computer systems, chemical plant control systems, manufacturingplant control systems, satellite control systems, computer operatingsystems and other software systems, objects or programs, remote controlsystems, or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable systems that are amenable to control by the interface of thisinvention include, without limitation, any analog or digital processingunit or units having single or a plurality of software productsinstalled thereon and where each software product has one or moreadjustable attributes associated therewith, or singular softwareprograms or systems with one or more adjustable attributes, menus, listsor other functions or display outputs. Exemplary examples of suchsoftware products include, without limitation, operating systems,graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems,business systems, online merchandising, online merchandising systems,purchasing and business transaction systems, Kiosks and educational orinformational systems, databases, software programs and applications,internet browsers, accounting systems, inventory systems, inventorydisplay systems, military systems, control systems, or the like, ormixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable digital processing units (DPUs) include, without limitation,any digital processing unit capable of accepting input from a singularor plurality of devices or objects and converting at least some of theinput into output designed to select and/or control attributes of one ormore of the devices or objects. Exemplary examples of such DPUs include,without limitation, microprocessor, microcontrollers, or the likemanufactured by Intel, Motorola, Erricsson, HP, Samsung, Hitachi, NRC,Applied Materials, AMD, Cyrix, Sun Microsystem, Philips, NationalSemiconductor, Via Electonics, Qualcomm, or any other manufacture ofmicroprocessors or microcontrollers.

Suitable analog processing units (APUs) include, without limitation, anyanalog processing unit capable of accepting input from a singular or aplurality of devices or objects and converting at least some of theinput into output designed to control attributes of one or more of thedevices or objects. Such analog devices are available from manufacturerssuch as Analog Devices Inc.

Suitable motion sensing apparatus include, without limitation, motionsensors of any form such as digital cameras, optical scanners, opticalroller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads,holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, EMFsensors, wave form sensors, any other device capable of sensing motion,changes in EMF, changes in wave form, or the like or arrays of suchdevices or mixtures or combinations thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS First Method and System Embodiments

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a display, generally 100, is shown to includea display area 102. The display area 102 is in a dormant state or asleep state or an inactivate state. This state is changed only bymovement of any body part within an active zone of a motion sensor orsensors. For motion sensors that are not touch activated such as camera,IR sensors, ultra sonic sensors, or any other type of motion sensor thatis capable of detecting motion with in an active zone, motion may be anymovement within the active zone of a user, a given user body part or acombination of user body parts or an object acting on behalf of or underthe user's control. In the case of a touch screen, motion will becontact with and motion on the touch screen, i.e, touching, sliding,etc. or other active area of a device or object.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, once activated, the display area 102 displaysa selection object 104 and a plurality of selectable objects 106 a-ydistributed about the selection object in an arc 108. Looking at FIG.1C, the selection object 104 is moved upward and to the left. Thismotion will cause selectable objects 106 most aligned with the directionof motion to be drawn towards the selection object. Looking at FIG. 1D,four potential selection objects 106 f-i move toward the selectionobject and increase in size. The faster the motion toward the potentialselection object, the faster they may move toward the selection objectand the faster they may increase in size. The motion presently isdirected in a direction that is not conducive to determining the exactobject to be selected. Looking at FIG. 1E, as motion continues, thepossible selectable objects are resolved and objects such as object 106i is returned to its previous position. By moving the selection object104 toward the selectable object 106 g and bringing the selection object104 into contact or into a threshold event with the selectable object106 g, the other objects 106 f and 106 h return to their originalpositions and 106 g is highlighted in some way here shown in thickerlines as shown in FIG. 1F. Once the selection object 104 comes incontact or into a threshold event with the selectable object 106 g, theselection object 104 merges into the selectable object 106 g, all otherselectable objects 106 are removed from the display area 102 and themerged selection object 104 and selected object 106 g may be centered inthe display area 102 as shown in FIG. 1G. If the selected object 106 gincludes subobjects, then the display area 102 will simultaneouslycenter the selected object 106 g and display the subobjects 110 a-fdistributed about the merged selection object 104 and selected object106 g as shown in FIG. 1H.

Referring now to FIG. 1I, the selection object 104 is moved out from theselected object 106 g in a direction towards two possible subobjects 110b-c, which move toward the selection object 104 and may increase insize. Looking at FIG. 1J, the selection object 104 is moved away fromthe subobjects 110 b-c toward the object 110 e. Looking at FIG. 1K, theselection object 104 is moved into contact with the subobject 110 e,which selects by merging the object 104 into the selected subobject 110e and activates the subobject 110 e as shown in FIG. 1L. The subobjectmay also move into the position of the object if 104 moves and stops,allowing the subobject to do the rest of the motion.

Referring now to FIG. 1M, if the selected object 106 g is directlyactivatable, then selection of the selectable object 106 gsimultaneously activates the object 106 g.

Second Method and System Embodiments

Referring now to FIG. 2A, a display, generally 200, is shown to includea display area 202. The display area 202 is in a dormant state or asleep state or an unactivated state. This state is changed only bymotion within an active zone of a motion sensor. Motion may be anymovement within the active zone. In the case of a touch screen, motionmay be contact such as touching, sliding, etc. Looking at FIG. 2B, onceactivated, the display area 202 displays a selection object 204 and aplurality of selectable objects 206 a-d distributed about the selectionobject in an arc 208.

Looking at FIG. 2C, the section object 204 is moved toward theselectable object 206 a, which may move toward the selection object 204increasing its size and simultaneously displaying associated subobjects210 a&b. For example, if the object 206 a is a camera and the subobjects210 a&b are commands to take a photograph and record a video sequence.As the selection object 202 is moved further toward and contacts orenters into a threshold event with the selectable object 206 a, theselectable object 206 a may move closer and get larger along with itssubobjects 210 a&b as shown in FIG. 2D. Looking at FIG. 2E, theselection object 204 is in contact with the selectable object 206 a andthe other objects 206 b-d are removed or fade away and the selectedobject 206 a and its associated subobjects 210 a&b center and thesubobjects distribute away so that the subobjects may be more easilyselected as shown in FIG. 2F. This may or may not be centered in thedisplay area.

Referring now to FIG. 2G, the selection object 204 is moved from itsmerged state toward the subobject 210 b coming in contact or enteringinto a threshold event with the subobject 210 b, which is attracted tothe selection object 204 and increase in size. Looking at FIG. 2H, thesubobject 210 b is selected as evidenced by the merging of the selectionobject 204 with the subobject 210 b and simultaneously activates thesubobject 210 b.

Referring now to FIG. 2I, the selection object 204 is moved from itsmerged state toward the subobject 210 a coming in contact or enteringinto a threshold event with the subobject 210 a, which is attracted tothe selection object 204 and increase in size. Looking at FIG. 2J, thesubobject 210 a is selected as evidenced by the merging of the selectionobject 204 with the subobject 210 a and simultaneously activates thesubobject 210 a.

Referring now to FIG. 2K, after selecting the selectable object 206 a,the user decides to discontinue this selection and move the selectionobject 204 from its merged state in a direction away from any otherobject resulting in the resetting of the display 202 back to the displayconfiguration of FIG. 2B as shown in FIG. 2L.

Referring now to FIG. 2M, the section object 204 is moved toward theselectable object 206 b, which move toward the selection object 204increasing its size and simultaneously displaying associated subobjects212 a-c. For example, if the object 206 b is a phone and the subobjects210 a-c are activate voicemail, open contacts, and opening phone dialingpad. As the selection object 204 is moved further toward and contactsthe selectable object 206 b, the selectable object 206 b move closer andget larger along with its subobjects 212 a-c as shown in FIG. 2N. Theselection object 204 is in contact with the selectable object 206 b andthe other objects 206 b-d are removed or fade away and the selectedobject 206 b and its associated subobjects 212 a-c center and thesubobjects distribute away so that the subobjects may be more easilyselected as shown in FIG. 2O.

Referring now to FIG. 2P, the selection object 204 is moved from itsmerged state toward the subobject 212 a coming in contact with thesubobject 212 a, which is attracted to the selection object 204 andincrease in size and its line width is increased. Looking at FIG. 2Q,the subobject 212 a is selected as evidenced by the merging of theselection object 204 with the subobject 212 a and simultaneouslyactivates the subobject 212 a.

Referring now to FIG. 2R, the section object 204 is moved toward theselectable object 206 c, which move toward the section object 204increasing its size and simultaneously displaying associated subobjects214 a-c. For example, if the object 206 c is the world wide web and thesubobjects 210 a-c are open favorites, open recent sites, and openfrequently visited sites. As the selection object 204 is moved furthertoward and contacts or entering into a threshold event the selectableobject 206 c, the selectable object 206 c move closer and get largeralong with its subobjects 214 a-c as shown in FIG. 2S. The selectionobject 204 is in contact with the selectable object 206 c and the otherobjects 206 b-d are removed or fade away and the selected object 206 cand its associated subobjects 214 a-c center and the subobjectsdistribute away so that the subobjects may be more easily selected asshown in FIG. 2T.

Referring now to FIG. 2U, the section object 204 is moved toward theselectable object 206 d, which move toward the section object 204increasing its size. For example, if the object 206 d is twitter, thentwitter is opened, i.e., the object is activated. As the selectionobject 204 is moved further toward and contacts or entering into athreshold event the selectable object 206 d, the selectable object 206 dmove closer and get larger as shown in FIG. 2V. The selection object 204is in contact with the selectable object 206 d are removed or fade awayand the selected object 206 d is activated as shown in FIG. 2T.

Third Method and System Embodiments

Referring now to FIG. 3A, a display, generally 300, is shown to includea display area 302. The display area 302 is in a dormant state or asleep state or an unactivated state. This state is changed only bymotion within an active zone of a motion sensor. Motion may be anymovement within the active zone. In the case of a touch screen, motionmay be contact such as touching, sliding, etc. Looking at FIG. 3B,motion within an active zone of a motion sensor associated with aninterface activates the system and the display area 302 includes avirtual centroid 304 (the centroid is an object in the processingsoftware and does not appear on the display, but all subsequent motionis defined relative to this centroid). In the display area, a pluralityof selectable object clusters 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, and 326 aredistributed about the virtual centroid 304. The selectable objectclusters 306, 310, 314, 318, 322, and 326 include selectable clusterobjects 308, 312, 316, 320, 324, and 328, respectively. Looking at FIG.3C, the cluster 308 includes objects 308 a-e; the cluster object 312includes objects 312 a-c; the cluster 316 includes 316 a-f, the cluster320 includes 320 a-f; the cluster 324 is a selectable object; and thecluster 328 includes 328 a-d.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, motion of a body part such as a user's eye,hand, foot, etc. within in the active zone of the motion sensorassociated with the interface is displayed as a virtual directed linesegment in the display area, but the directed line segment is notactually displayed. The sensed motion is analyzed and the interfacepredicts the object most aligned with the motion characteristic such asdirection, speed of motion and/or acceleration of the motion. Looking atFIG. 3E, the predict portion of the software of the interface determinesand cluster 310 is the most likely cluster that is to be selected andits associated selectable cluster object 312 a-c are also displayed. Theinterface then causes the objects 312 a-c to be drawn to the centroid304 (or towards the relative location of the user's eye(s) or bodypart(s) acting as the selection object) and increased in size as shownin FIG. 3F. FIG. 3F also shows continued motion sensed by the motionsensor in an augmented direction. Looking at FIG. 3G, the augmenteddirection permits additional discrimination so that now only objects 312b and 312 c are displayed, attracted and spaced apart for betterdiscrimination.

Referring now to FIG. 3H, a new augments direction of motion sensed bythe motion sensor permits selection, centering of the selected object312 c and activation of the selected object 312 c as shown in FIG. 3I.

in the predictive selection of cluster 310 and the eventual selection ofthe object 312 c, these selections may be confirmed by motion of asecond body part. Thus, if eye motion is used as the primary motionindicator, then motion of a second body part such as nodding of thehead, blinking of the eye, hand movement, or motion of any other bodypart may be used as confirmation of the selection. Similarly, a hold maybe utilized to begin the attractive process of bringing the selectableobject or objects toward the user. Just as in the interfaces of FIGS.1A-M and FIGS. 2A-W, motion away from selectable objects returns thedisplay to the previous selection level. Continued motion away continuesthis drill up until the display is back to the top level. In certainembodiments, clusters may be selected by certain predetermined gesturesthat are used to active particular cluster, objects or object groups. Inother embodiments, lifting of the finger or moving out of an activatingplane, area or volume would reset the objects to a predeterminedlocation and state.

Fourth Method and System Embodiments

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-D, a display, generally 400, is shown toinclude a display area 402. The display area 402 is shown to include aselection object 404 and a selectable object 406. As the selectionobject 404 moves toward the selectable object 406, the two objects 404and 406 move toward each other and an active area 408 is generated infront of the selectable object 406 in the direction of the selectionobject 404. As movement continues, the size of the active area 408increases and the certainty of the selection increases as shown by thedarkening color of the active area 408. Finally, the selection isconfirmed by merging the two objects 404 and 406.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-Q, a process of this invention is shown tocontext with a virtual store including primary selectable “isles”. Whilethe virtual store is represented in 2D, it should be clear that 3D andhigher dimensional analogues are equally enabled, where high dimensionwould be constructed of object that are 3D in nature but are presentedby selectable 2D objects. 4D systems may be presented by 3D selectableobjects that change in color or change some other attribute on acontinuous or discrete basis.

Fifth Method and System Embodiments

Looking at FIGS. 5A&B, a display, generally 500, is shown to include adisplay area 502, and is shown in its sleep or inactive state. Onceactivated by touch, motion within an active zone or by anotheractivation methodology such as sound, voice, claps, or the like, thedisplay area 502 is shown to include a selection object 504 (which maybe visible or invisible—invisible here) and a plurality of selectableobject or isles 506 a-i.

Looking at FIGS. 5C-E, movement of the selection object 504 towards theleft side of the display 502 causes isles 506 a-d to enlarge and movetoward the selection object 504, while isles 506 e-i to shrink and moveaway from the selection object 504. Although these figures showselectable objects aligned with the direction of movement to enlarge andmove toward the selection object 504 and selectable objects not alignedwith the direction of movement to shrink and move away from theselection object 504, each set of object may also be highlighted as thenenlarge or faded as they recede. Additionally, the speed of the movementmay result in the enhancement of the enlargement and movement towards ofthe aligned objects making them appear to accelerate towards theselection object 504, while simultaneously enhancing the movement awayand fading of the non-aligned objects. As the movement continues,discrimination between the aligned isles 506 a-d clarifies until themovement permits sufficient discrimination to select isle 506 b, whichmay move and/or accelerate toward the selection object 504 shown here asbeing enlarged in size as the non-aligned are reduced in size and moveaway. Of course, the isles 506 b may be highlighted as the isles 506 a,506 c, and 506 d. It should be recognized that all this selectiondiscrimination occurs smoothly and not disjointed as represented inthese figures. Moreover, the discrimination may also be predictive bothfrom a mathematical and vector analysis framework and/o based on userspecific movement characteristics and prior selection histories. Basedon mathematics and vector analysis and user history, the level ofpredictability may be such that selection is much more immediate.Additionally, as the interface learn more and more about a user'spreferences and history, the interface upon activation may bring up lesschoices or may default to a most probable choices.

Looking at FIGS. 5F-H, once the interface has determined the targetisle, here isle 506 b, either by direct contact of the selection object504 with the isle 506 b, by a proximity contact of the selection object504 with the isle 506 b, by a predictive selection of the isle 506 b, orby a threshold event triggered by the selection object 504 moving towardthe isle 506 b, the display 502 opens up to selectable objectsassociated with the isle 506 b including subisles 508 a-i. In thisembodiment, the subisles 508 a-i do not become visible until andselection of the isle 506 b was made, however, in other embodiments, asthe selection of isle 506 b becomes more certain and the other islesreduce and fade away, the display 502 may start displaying the subisles508 a-i or several layers of subisles (or subobjects or submenus)simultaneously, permitting movement to begin to discriminate between thesubisles 508 a-i. Movement to the right of the display 502 causessubisles 508 f-i to be highlighted (darkened in this case), but not tomove toward the selection object 504 or become enlarged, while subisles508 a-e to be dotted and faded instead of moving away from the selectionobject 504 and fading. Additional movement permits discrimination of 508f to be selected as evidence by the continued darkening of 508 f and thecontinued fading of 508 a-e and the start of fading 508 g-i. In certainembodiments, no gravitational effect is implemented.

Looking at FIGS. 5I-L, once the interface has determined the targetisle, here subisle 508 f, either by direct contact of the selectionobject 504 with the subisle 508 f, by a proximity contact of theselection object 504 with the subisle 508 f, by a predictive selectionof the subisle 508 f, or by a threshold event triggered by the selectionobject 504 moving toward the subisle 508 f, the display 502 opens up toselectable objects associated with the isle 508 f including subsubisles510 a-n. In this embodiment, the subsubisles 510 a-n do not becomevisible until the selection of the subisle 508 f was made, however, inother embodiments, as the selection of subisle 508 f becomes morecertain and the other subisles reduce and fade away, the display 502 maystart displaying the subsubisles 510 a-n permitting movement to begin todiscriminate between the subsubisles 510 a-n. Movement to the left ofthe display 502 causes subsubisles 510 d-g to be highlighted (darkenedin this case), but not to move toward the selection object 504 or becomeenlarged, while subsubisles 510 a-c and 510 h-n to be dotted and fadedinstead of moving away from the selection object 504 and fading.Additional movement causes the subsubisles 510 d-g to be enlarge andmove toward the selection object 504, while the subsubisles 510 a-c and510 h-n move away from the selection object 504 and fade. The additionalmovement also permits discrimination and selection of subsubisle 510 d.

Looking at FIGS. 5M-Q, once the interface has determined by themovement, either by direct contact of the selection object 504 with thesubsubisle 510 d, proximity contact of the selection object 504 with thesubsubisle 510 d, or predictive selection of the isle 510 d, the display502 opens up to selectable objects associated with the subsubisle 510 dincluding items a-ge. In this embodiment, the items a-ge do not becomevisible until and selection of the subsubisle 510 d was made, however,in other embodiments, as the selection of subsubisle 510 d becomes morecertain and the other subisles reduce and fade away, the display 502 maystart displaying the items a-ge permitting movement to begin todiscriminate between the items a-ge. As seen in FIGS. 5N-Q, the itemsa-ge are distributed on a standard grid pattern around the selectionobject 504. Of course, the items a-ge may be distributed in any patternin the display 502 such as circularly or arcuately distributed about theselection object 504. Movement to the left of the display 502 causesitems a-g, r-x, ai-ao, and az-bf to be highlighted (darkened in thiscase), enlarged and pulled towards the selection object 504, while theitems h-q, y-ah, ap-ay, bg-bp, and bq-ge recede from the selectionobject 504 are reduced in size and faded. Additional movement permitsdiscrimination of the items a-g, r-x, ai-ao, and az-bf, where theadditional movement refines the potential selection to items c-f andt-w. The next movement permits selection of item c, which results in theselection object 504 and the item c merged in the center of the display502. As is shown in FIGS. 5A-Q, each level of selection superimposesonto the display 502, the selection made.

The methodology depicted in FIGS. 5A-Q is amenable to use in anysetting, where the interface is part of applications associated withstores such as grocery stores, retails stores, libraries, or any otherfacility that includes large amounts of items or objects cataloged intocategories. The applications using the interface is implemented simplyby allowing movement to be used to peruse, shop, select, or otherwiseselect items for purchase or use. The applications may also beassociated with computer systems running large number of softwareprograms and large number of databases so that movement only will permitselection and activation of the software programs, selection andactivation of databases, and/or the extraction and analysis of datawithin the databases, and may also be applicable to environmentalsystems, such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, oil and gas systems,security systems, gaming systems and any other environment where choicesare present.

In an array of objects, say a mobile smart phone, touching directly andlifting off opens the app currently (old technology and not ours), butby touching directly (in a specified way such as a “hold”) on an objectcould cause the surrounding objects to move away and make room for thechoices related to that object to appear (radially, arcuately, or inanother fashion) with such menu items as “move” and “open”, submenus orsubobjects to be activated, or to directly control variable attributes,or scroll, etc—whatever is associated with that item. Touching in anarea, but not directly on an object, or touching and beginning to moveimmediately, would invoke the selection process described so well above.This specific point regarding the first action to be touching an objectvs. moving towards an object and having its subobjects appear, possiblyin several layers needs to be included, as we will incorporate it intoour mobile controls in the near future.

Moreover, the software may be implemented to use any, some, or all ofthe above described methods, aspects, techniques, etc. In fact, theinterface may be user tailored so that certain selection format used aspecific aspect or a set of specific aspects of the invention, whileother selections use other aspects or a set of other aspects. Thus, theinterface may be tuned to by the user. Additionally, the interface maybe equip with learning algorithms that permit the interface to tuneitself to the user's preferred movement and selection modality so thatthe interface becomes attuned to the user permitting improved selectionprediction, improved user conform, improved user functionality andimproved user specific functionality.

Telephone Number Selecting

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a display is shown prior to activation bymotion of a motion sensor in communication with the display. The displayincludes an active object AO, a set of phone number objects 0-9, * and#, a backspace object BS and a delete object Del and a phone numberdisplay object.

Referring now to FIGS. 6B-K, a series of movement of the active objectAO is shown that results in the selection of a specific phone number. InFIGS. 6A-G and FIGS. 6I-K, selection are made by moving the activeobject AO from one number to another. FIG. 6H, depict a number selectionby a time hold in the active area of the phone object 8. It should berecognized, that the selection format could equally well have usedattraction of selectable phone objects toward the active object duringthe selection process. Additionally, the phone objects could be arrangedin a different order or configuration. Additionally, for blind uses, thesystem could say the number as it is selected and if the configurationis fixed, then the user would be able to move the active object aroundthe display with audio messages indicating the selectable object andtheir relative disposition.

Referring now to FIGS. 6L-R, the system is show for the deletion ofselected numbers number. Looking at FIGS. 6L-M, two examples of usingthe backspace object BS are shown. In the first example, slow movementof the active object AO towards the backspace object BS results in thedeletion of one number at a time. Holding the active object AO withinthe active zone of the backspace object BS, the system will continue todelete number by number until no numbers remain. In the second examples,rapid movement of the active object AO towards the backspace object BSresults in the deletion of multiple numbers in the first instance.Holding the active object AO within the active zone of the backspaceobject BS, the system will continue to delete numbers in blocks until nonumbers remain. Alternatively, if the motion is rapid and jerky, thesystem would delete could delete the entire number. Looking at FIGS.6N-R, the use of a deletion object is shown. The active object is movedinto the number display area to a number to be deleted, motion towardthe delete object Del deletes the number. Then movement of the activeobject toward a new phone number object corrects the number. It shouldbe recognized that this same backspace and deletion procedure can beused for any selection mechanism involving objects to be selected inorder and displayed in a display object. If the display object iscomprises of text, the motion of towards the backspace object BS will beused to delete works or collections of object one at a time, groups at atime or the entire object list at one time depending totally on thespeed, acceleration, smoothness, jerkiness, or other attributes of themotion.

CLOSING PARAGRAPH

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference for allpurposes in accord with statues, rules and regulations of the UnitedStates Patent Laws, Rules, and Regulations. Although the invention hasbeen disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from readingthis description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes andmodification that may be made which do not depart from the scope andspirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter.

We claim:
 1. A system for selecting and activating virtual or realobjects and their controllable attributes comprising: at least onemotion sensor having an active sensing zone, at least one processingunit, at least one power supply unit, one object or a plurality ofobjects under the control of the processing units, where the sensors,processing units, and power supply units are in electrical communicationwith each other, where the motion sensors sense motion including motionproperties within the active zones, generate at least one output signal,and send the output signals to the processing units, where theprocessing units convert the output signals into at least one commandfunction, where the command functions comprise: (7) a start function,(8) a scroll function, (9) a select function, (10) an attributefunction, (11) an attribute control function, (12) a simultaneouscontrol function including: (g) a select and scroll function, (h) aselect, scroll and activate function, (i) a select, scroll, activate,and attribute control function, (j) a select and activate function, (k)a select and attribute control function, (l) a select, active, andattribute control function, or (m) combinations thereof, or (13)combinations thereof, where the start functions activate at least oneselection or cursor object and a plurality of selectable objects uponfirst sensing motion by the motion sensors and selectable objectsaligned with the motion direction move toward the selection object orbecome differentiated from non-aligned selectable objects and motioncontinues until a target selectable object or a plurality of targetselectable objects are discriminated from non-target selectable objectsresulting in activation of the target object or objects, where themotion properties include a touch, a lift off, a direction, a velocity,an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a changein acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change ofvelocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds,or mixtures and combinations thereof, where the objects comprise realworld objects, virtual objects and mixtures or combinations thereof,where the real world objects include physical, mechanical,electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical, orelectronic devices or any other real world device that can be controlledby a processing unit and the virtual objects include any constructgenerated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed by a displaydevice and that are capable of being controlled by a processing unit,where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustableattributes associated with the objects, and where changes in motionproperties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or theprocessing units.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the start functionsfurther activate the user feedback units and the selection objects andthe selectable objects are discernible via the motion sensors inresponse to movement of an animal, human, robot, robotic system, part orparts thereof, or combinations thereof within the motion sensor activezones.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes: atleast on user feedback unit, at least one battery backup unit,communication hardware and software, at least one remote control unit,or mixtures and combinations thereof, where the sensors, processingunits, power supply units, the user feedback units, the battery backupunits, the remote control units are in electrical communication witheach other.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein faster motion causes afaster movement of the target object or objects toward the selectionobject or causes a greater differentiation of the target object orobject from the non-target object or objects.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein if the activated objects or objects have subobjects and/orattributes associated therewith, then as the objects move toward theselection object, the subobjects and/or attributes appear and becomemore discernible as object selection becomes more certain.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein once the target object or objects have beenselected, then further motion within the active zones of the motionsensors causes selectable subobjects or selectable attributes alignedwith the motion direction to move towards the selection object(s) orbecome differentiated from non-aligned selectable subobjects orselectable attributes and motion continues until a target selectablesubobject or attribute or a plurality of target selectable objectsand/or attributes are discriminated from non-target selectablesubobjects and/or attributes resulting in activation of the targetsubobject, attribute, subobjects, or attributes.
 7. The system of claim1, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting ofdigital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touchpads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, lasertracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, any other devicecapable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures orcombinations thereof.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the objectsinclude lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, soundsystems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medicaldevices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supplydevices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems,air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plantcontrol systems, computer operating systems, systems, graphics systems,business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers,accounting systems, military systems, control systems, other softwaresystems, programs, routines, objects and/or elements, remote controlsystems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein if the timed hold is brief, then the processing unit causes anattribute to be adjusted to a preset level.
 10. The system of claim 1,wherein if the timed hold is continued, then the processing unit causesan attribute to undergo a high value/low value cycle that ends when thehold is removed.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the timed holdcauses an attribute value to change so that (1) if the attribute is atits maximum value, the timed hold causes the attribute value to decreaseat a predetermined rate, until the timed hold is removed, (2) if theattribute value is at its minimum value, then the timed hold causes theattribute value to increase at a predetermined rate, until the timedhold is removed, (3) if the attribute value is not the maximum or miniumvalue, then the timed hold causes randomly selects the rate anddirection of attribute value change or changes the attribute to allowmaximum control, or (4) the timed hold causes a continuous change in theattribute value in a direction of the initial motion until the timedhold is removed.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein: the motion sensorssense a second motion including second motion properties within theactive zones, generate at least one output signal, and send the outputsignals to the processing units, and the processing units convert theoutput signals into a confirmation command confirming the selection orat least one second command function for controlling different objectsor different object attributes.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein: themotion sensors sense motions including motion properties of two or moreanimals, humans, robots, or parts thereof, or objects under the controlof humans, animals, and/or robots within the active zones, generateoutput signals corresponding to the motions, and send the output signalsto the processing units, and the processing units convert the outputsignals into command function or confirmation commands or combinationsthereof implemented simultaneously or sequentially, where the startfunctions activate a plurality of selection or cursor objects and aplurality of selectable objects upon first sensing motion by the motionsensor and selectable objects aligned with the motion directions movetoward the selection objects or become differentiated from non-alignedselectable objects and the motions continue until target selectableobjects or pluralities of target selectable objects are discriminatedfrom non-target selectable objects resulting in activation of the targetobjects and the confirmation commands confirm the selections.
 14. Amethod for controlling objects comprising: sensing motion includingmotion properties within an active sensing zone of at least one motionsensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, anacceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change inacceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change ofvelocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds,or mixtures and combinations thereof, producing an output signal or aplurality of output signals corresponding to the sensed motion,converting the output signal or signals via a processing unit incommunication with the motion sensors into a command function or aplurality of command functions, where the command functions comprise:(1) a start function, (2) a scroll function, (3) a select function, (4)an attribute function, (5) an attribute control function, (6) asimultaneous control function including: (g) a select and scrollfunction, (h) a select, scroll and activate function, (i) a select,scroll, activate, and attribute control function, (j) a select andactivate function, (k) a select and attribute control function, (l) aselect, active, and attribute control function, or (m) combinationsthereof, or (7) combinations thereof, processing the command function orthe command functions simultaneously or sequentially, where the startfunctions activate at least one selection or cursor object and aplurality of selectable objects upon first sensing motion by the motionsensor and selectable objects aligned with the motion direction movetoward the selection object or become differentiated from non-alignedselectable objects and motion continues until a target selectable objector a plurality of target selectable objects are discriminated fromnon-target selectable objects resulting in activation of the targetobject or objects, where the motion properties include a touch, a liftoff, a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, achange in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change ofdirection, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change ofacceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinationsthereof, and where the objects comprise real world objects, virtualobjects or mixtures and combinations thereof, where the real worldobjects include physical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic,electro-magnetic, electrical, or electronic devices or any other realworld device that can be controlled by a processing unit and the virtualobjects include any construct generated in a virtual world or by acomputer and displayed by a display device and that are capable of beingcontrolled by a processing unit, where the attributes compriseactivatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with theobjects, and where changes in motion properties are changes discernibleby the motion sensors and/or the processing units.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the groupconsisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller balldevices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographicdevices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, anyother device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, andmixtures or combinations thereof.
 16. The method of claim 14, whereinthe objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers,stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems,medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold watersupply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilationsystems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemicalplant control systems, computer operating systems, systems, graphicssystems, business software systems, word processor systems, internetbrowsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, othersoftware systems, programs, routines, objects and/or elements, remotecontrol systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.
 17. The method ofclaim 14, wherein if the timed hold is brief, then the processing unitcauses an attribute to be adjusted to a preset level.
 18. The method ofclaim 14, wherein if the timed hold is continued, then the processingunit causes an attribute to undergo a high value/low value cycle thatends when the hold is removed.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein thetimed hold causes an attribute value to change so that (1) if theattribute is at its maximum value, the timed hold causes the attributevalue to decrease at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold isremoved, (2) if the attribute value is at its minimum value, then thetimed hold causes the attribute value to increase at a predeterminedrate, until the timed hold is removed, (3) if the attribute value is notthe maximum or minium value, then the timed hold causes randomly selectsthe rate and direction of attribute value change or changes theattribute to allow maximum control, or (4) the timed hold causes acontinuous change in the attribute value in a direction of the initialmotion until the timed hold is removed.
 20. The method of claim 14,further comprising sensing second motion including second motionproperties within the active sensing zone of the motion sensors,producing a second output signal or a plurality of second output signalscorresponding to the second sensed motion, converting the second outputsignal or signals via the processing units in communication with themotion sensors into a second command function or a plurality of secondcommand functions, and confirming the selection based on the secondoutput signals, or processing the second command function or the secondcommand functions and moving selectable objects aligned with the secondmotion direction toward the selection object or become differentiatedfrom non-aligned selectable objects and motion continues until a secondtarget selectable object or a plurality of second target selectableobjects are discriminated from non-target second selectable objectsresulting in activation of the second target object or objects, wherethe motion properties include a touch, a lift off, a direction, avelocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity,a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate ofchange of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds,timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof.
 21. The method ofclaim 14, wherein: sensing motions including motion properties of two ormore animals, humans, robots, or parts thereof within the active zonesof the motion sensors, producing output signals corresponding to themotions, converting the output signals into command function orconfirmation commands or combinations thereof, where the start functionsactivate a plurality of selection or cursor objects and a plurality ofselectable objects upon first sensing motion by the motion sensor andselectable objects aligned with the motion directions move toward theselection objects or become differentiated from non-aligned selectableobjects and the motions continue until target selectable objects orpluralities of target selectable objects are discriminated fromnon-target selectable objects resulting in activation of the targetobjects and the confirmation commands confirm the selections.